Torn by Margaret Peterson Haddix ~ The Missing Series, Book 4

This scientific fiction is (mainly) about Jonah and Katherine traveling through time to save the history voyage of Henry Hudson, Canada in 1611. Their friends, Andrea, Brendan, Antonio, and JB are trapped in 1600 in Roanoke Island. Well, JB's name is not really JB, but Jonah and Katherine nick named him as that name because he was dressed like a Janitor Boy when they first met him before. JB is a time officer, but his most trusted projectionist (time traveler who predict what will happen in any time, and "project" means "predict" in this case), Second had decided to change the past to make more sense, but that made time mess up as well as the old travelers had. Jonah is an adopted brother of Katherine, he feels responsibility towards his sister, and shows some brave actions throughout the time (Also a missing child from unknown history). Katherine is Jonah's sister who love to time travel and have adventures, but she always shows caring towards her older brother (not adopted). 

When they arrived at Henry Hudson's ship, Jonah had to wear a costume of John Hudson (Henry Hudson,s son). The costume was bulletproof and stab proof, so that made Jonah feel more comforted. He was cheered at finding out that he would only have to pretend to be wild-haired, frostbitten, pockmarked, gap-toothed and disgustingly scarred. Even his voice sounded like John Hudson, because there was voice modification software in the teeth overlays, so even Katherine couldn't believe that Jonah was in there trying to act like John Hudson. As soon as they heard some footsteps, JB had made Katherine turn invisible, so no one can see her except Jonah, because only time travelers are able to see invisible travelers. But the time had gone all wrong, and the tracers had vanished (tracers are ghostly clone that appears when people or some objects are not in the right place, but only time travelers are able to find them, they also shows how original time should work for the characters that are messed up). Now Jonah and Katherine are totally by themselves, without the tracers and JB leading them. 

At the middle of the journey, a mysterious crew named Abacuk Prickett had made Jonah to make difficulty through his actions, but somehow Jonah thought he had met him before, somewhere. The history they remember is drastically different from what they're experiencing. Jonah and Katherine struggle to unravel the mysteries of 1611 and the Hudson Passage before their only future they've ever known is lost forever. This book changed my way of thinking about the Hudson Passage, and the harshness of the struggle to survive the frozen seas and brutal conditions aboard the ship. This book might explain a little about the possibilities of time traveling, and how dangerous it might be. But it will be a great book to learn some histories while enjoying the struggles and the adventures that flows throughout the story. This book is enjoyable, even though you might have not read the first three series yet, but it could be good for someone who couldn't focus in social studies class! If you want to know what will happen to their future, and how Jonah and Katherine will solve through travels of struggles and the mystery of Abacuk Prickett, as well as the mystery of the Hudson Passage, try to find out with your cleverness of reading!

Reviewed by Sumika ~ 6th Grade

Lexile 720