The Lost Cities: A Drift House Voyage by Dale Peck opens at the start of summer, 2002. It's been almost a year since the Oakenfeld siblings were driven up to Canada to escape the chaos of the World Trade Center destruction. Just as Susan, Charles and Murray are preparing for their trip back, Murray comes down with chicken pox, meaning he is left behind in Manhattan.

Susan and Charles, though, have been given a book that provides further clues to how Drift House and the Seas of Time work. Unfortunately, disaster strikes in the form of a temporal tsunami, thus separating Charles from the house, while Susan and Uncle Farley are once again adrift.

Parents who might have read (or seen the episode) Doctor Who and the War Games will understand straight away the plight both siblings are in. Living along the shores of the Seas of Time are lost cultures, including entire lost cities — temporal echoes of times long forgotten. Much like the crew of cursed Flying Dutchman, these people continue to go about their business, unwilling or unable to grasp that their time has come and gone.

I found the continuing exploration of time travel in a temporal maelstrom, fascinating. Charles this time gets to experience first hand some of what little Murray has gone through or will go through depending on where in time he is. ( )

I was so disappointed by this book. I loved the first one so much that it was in my top 5 of 2005. I've been waiting for this one since, and I am so sorry to say that it doesn't even come close to measuring up to the first one. The plot is muddy and sprawling, the parrots annoying, the grownups stupid, the denouement unclear. The bits inserted to teach the young'uns historical facts are like little unblended pieces of hard sugar in your cake. It struck me as a novel which had several directions from which to choose, but which did not choose, rather sailed off in all directions at once. ( )

Siblings Susan and Charles receive a mysterious book before leaving to visit their Uncle Farley at his time-traveling house, where they become separated in the Sea of Time and struggle to find their way home.

(#15 in the 2007 book challenge)

It is with GREAT regret that I give this a lukewarm review, and it just crushes me because the first book was so good. You know, this kind of book has always bothered me -- it's a magic/fantasy/time travel adventure story, and it's completely joyless. NOT ONE FUN THING happens to the kids having the adventure. If you're going to have magical adventures in time travel, they shouldn't be A Total Drag. Honestly, you'd be better off staying home. I get that time travel is frequently a serious business, but does it have to be a Giant Hassle from start to finish? Even serious magic stories should have some moments where you can take a step back and enjoy something awesome and cool and, well, magic, otherwise why even bother? Thunderbolt City! Aunt Beast! Talking Mice! That's what magic is supposed to be about.

Grade: Eh.
Recommended: Eh.

http://sfrevu.com/php/Review-id.php?id=4993 ( )