Title: The Magic Button’s Fantasy Flight: A 250-Year Journey to Freedom
Author: Swapna Gangopadhyay
Publisher: Software Goldsmith Inc.
ISBN: 979-8995912125
Pages: 139
Genre: Children’s Time Travel Science Fiction/Fantasy
Reviewer: Tony Espinoza
Pacific Book Review
Understanding the past is the only way to create a brighter future. At least that is the sentiment shared by many who look at history as a guidebook on what works and what doesn’t, and being able to share that knowledge and appreciate how the world has gotten to the stage it is in now. It is vital for future generations to be able to hone in on for themselves.
In author Swapna Gangopadhyay’s The Magic Button’s Fantasy Flight: A 250-Year Journey to Freedom, the author explores the impact the American Revolution had on the formation of the United States. Told through the lens of a magical journey for a group of young children across time itself, the novel follows these children as they discover a magic button in their grandfather’s attic, summoning a magical library owl named Barnaby and taking a magical ride through some of the most pivotal moments in the American Revolution, from the Proclamation of 1763 and the Boston Tea Party to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and so much more.
In this insightful and imaginative children’s book, the author does a fantastic job balancing the whimsical, magical elements of the fictional narrative with the true history behind these events, as well as prominent figures from this era, from James Armistead Lafayette to Sybil Ludington and many others. The character development is brought to life beautifully through the author’s writing style, and the colorful and realistic artwork which can be found between each page of writing allows for a visual representation of the narrative, and will instantly draw younger readers in.
Readers who enjoy magical time-travel fiction, especially children’s fiction that blends fantasy, sci-fi, and adventure, will thoroughly enjoy this novel. The book both entertains and educates readers as they delve into some pivotal moments of American history, and the author carefully touches upon all parties involved in this era of history, from the colonists and the Native American tribes impacted by the growing conflict to the British officers and leadership that contributed to the revolution’s efforts. Insightful and impactful, this book is a journey readers won’t want to miss as they follow these characters as they explore the events that led to the revolution and the birth of a nation.
