Hour of the Outlaw
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The latest in the critically acclaimed, authentically detailed series transports readers back to the California Gold Rush. When Xavier, Xanthe, Nina, and Rowan are sent after a time-travel runaway to the California Gold Rush, they’re faced with some of their toughest challenges yet: testy gunslingers, greedy prospectors, and worse, a society that doesn’t treat all of its members equally. But if they work together as a team, they can find their missing time traveler and, in the process, uncover the dangerous secret behind the Owatannauk Hotel’s time-bending powers. Full of Wild West adventure, the latest entry in Maiya Williams’s series also offers readers a thought-provoking portrait of a time that was even more complex and colorful than most may realize. Awards and praise for the trilogy A Book Sense PickInternational Reading Association Fiction AwardSouthern California Booksellers Association Children’s Book Prize “Fun . . . for all lovers of fantasy, and the diversity is welcome.” —Detroit News and Free Press “One of the few fantasies with any African American characters . . .” —Booklist “Fills the gap between Harry Potter and A Series of Unfortunate Events.” —Time Out New York Kids “It’s refreshing to have African American teens as main characters without their race being a main theme of the book . . .” —VOYA, 4Q 4PVOYAIn this sequel to The Golden Hour (Amulet/Harry N. Abrams, 2004/VOYA June 2004) and The Hour of the Cobra (2006/VOYA June 2006), Xanthe, Xavier, Rowan, and Nina are given their first solo mission as Time Detectives. They travel to the time of the California Gold Rush to locate the missing son of Archibald Weber, inventor of the alleviator, a time machine. Balthazar disappeared during a time trip with his father. During their adventures, African American twins Xanthe and Xavier encounter the prejudice common at the time, but they also meet some Negro activists trying to help free blacks in the West. Nina plays the piano in a saloon, Rowan gets gold fever, and Xanthe keeps getting fired from domestic jobs. Xavier has the best role of all, becoming a bandit, the Ghost Rider, in order to befriend Balt who robs stagecoaches as the Black Rabbit. They finally convince Balt to return to his own time. Williams combines adventure and fantasy with historical fiction to create an action-packed story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The four likeable teens are intelligent and resourceful as they accomplish their mission. The author's extensive research helps her to deftly weave historical figures into the narrative in a believable way. A historical note identifies people and events in the story that are true. Fantasy and adventure fans, along with readers of the earlier books will enjoy this return of the Time Detectives. Reviewer: Deborah L. Dubois
