While the setup has some familiar elements, the group’s good-natured camaraderie and banter—plus some surprising destinations—make this an interesting tale in its own right. When they discover the treehouse will allow them to choose their destination, the friends initially jump in without thinking, but a disastrous trip to the Alamo that almost ends in catastrophe teaches them the treehouse will whisk them safely back home—and that a little planning can go a long way. They also learn a secret: wherever they end up in time, they’re able to blend in with the locals. That kickstarts an eye-opening adventure to Guanahaní, the Caribbean destination of Christopher Columbus’s famed trip, where the kids meet the indigenous Taíno Lukku-Cairi right before Columbus and his crew invade their land.

Caton allows her characters the chance to grow in knowledge throughout the story—Harry initially thinks of Columbus as a hero, but after experiencing the colonization through the eyes of the Taíno, he starts to see things more clearly, and Caton includes a subtle nod to Black slaves being killed by plantation owners that should open up discussions. The illustrations and designs are pleasantly diverse, and Caton nicely sets up the next adventure for those eager for more surprises and history.

Takeaway: Time travel teaches a lively group of friends that history can be deceiving.

Great for fans of: Dan Gutman’s Flashback Four series, Jeff Brown’s Flat Stanley series.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-