A Quest in Time — Frieda Wishinsky

Lisa stared at Uncle Harold's battered old trunk. Why had he sent it? There was only one way to find out. Lisa turned the rusty black key that lay on top. The trunk squeaked and groaned as if weary from a long trip. Then, with a tiny click, it opened...

When 12-year-old Lisa opens the trunk left for her by her beloved Uncle Harold, an archeologist, she has no idea what adventures are in store for her. Inside she finds it is full of the most wondrous objects -- best of all -- Uncle Harold's personal journal! On top of the journal lies a note.

My dear Lisa,
One journey ends. Another begins. Learn from what you see.
Learn from what you feel.
Remember, I love you.
Uncle Harold

Blinking back tears, Lisa settles in to discover what secrets the trunk holds. To her great surprise, certain objects have the power to transport her, spinning back through space, to a different time and place. Lisa finds herself on a Viking ship during a fierce storm, in India during the building of the Taj Mahal, helping to save a medieval village in England from invaders, and witnessing a Civil Rights protest in Alabama. As she explores deeper into the chest, each new object takes her on an incredible journey, revealing breathtaking snapshots from all over the world and across time.

Her reward at the end of each trip is a puzzle piece in the form of a letter. As Lisa collects a letter from every adventure, one from each century of the millennium, she realizes that together the letters spell out an important message from her Uncle Harold.

Full of fast-paced adventures and fascinating history, Quest in Time is sure to capture the imagination of young readers. Bill Slavin's action-filled, richly evocative illustrations transport readers right along with Lisa on her millennial adventures. Uncle Harold's message is an important reminder to everyone at the beginning of this new era.