Title: The Vikings Time Travel
Author: Linda Derose-Droubay
Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing
ISBN: 979-8-89243-869-8
Pages: 100
Genre: Fiction / YA
Reviewer: Arthur Thares
Read Book Review

The Vikings Time Travel is an exciting action-and-adventure book that manages to sneak in little history lessons throughout the story. It is a low-stakes tale that is fun for readers of all ages, but skews toward younger readers. There aren’t any serious consequences that aren’t resolved nicely, and there is no mature content to speak of. Instead, this book delivers a unique, yet familiar, story about a couple of kids out of time. The idea may sound familiar, but readers will soon find that The Vikings Time Travel is a story all its own.

The action starts almost immediately as siblings Christopher and Elizabeth are whisked from their safe home and dropped into the age of the Vikings. At first, the kids are scared, not knowing where they are, how they got there, or what danger awaits. Thankfully, they are taken in by a kind village that recognizes they are just two lost kids in an unfamiliar place. The two almost immediately take to Viking life, even learning specialties in the Village like hunting and caring for the animals. A deep bond forms between the Viking clan and the kids who were dropped on their doorstep, which makes matters worse when Christopher realizes that he and Elizabeth must eventually return to their normal lives.

This story has so many aspects that feel genuine and unique, but it also includes elements readers will recognize from other stories. Readers will recognize similarities with other classic kids’ series like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Magic Treehouse. It is written in a way that is accessible to young readers, but not so simple that an adult can’t enjoy it. There is a perfect balance between conflict and resolution, which evokes feelings in readers, but solves every conflict in a way that leaves the reader with peace of mind even if things don’t end exactly as you’d like.

Linda Derose-Droubay has delivered a solid story with little to nothing to critique. The story’s length is perfect. It gives your imagination enough detail to run with, while keeping it moving at a pace perfect for wandering minds. The best part about this story is that it introduces historical ideas in a manner that makes kids not even know that they are learning yet somehow walk away knowing what a Viking Longhouse and Falconry are. One thing is certain: there is plenty of room for Christopher and Elizabeth to have many more adventures, and hopefully they do.

For readers fascinated by Vikings and time-travel adventures, this book offers an engaging trip into the unknown. Linda Derose-Droubay brings together the excitement of the Viking era and the wonder of traveling through time in a story designed to spark curiosity and imagination.