The League and the Lantern
By Darienne Stewart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Fact-paced thriller adds conspiracy to Abe Lincoln lore.
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Based on 1 parent review
I recommend without any reservation
What's the Story?
Twelve-year-old Jake is ready for his Big Do-Over, a fresh start at a new school after a humiliating sixth-grade year. He gets off to a shaky start at the museum sleepover launching seventh grade, but the night soon gets even worse: A militant organization attacks the museum, intent on stealing precious artifacts from the night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Jake and two new classmates, TJ and Lucy, escape to seek help, but they need to find someone they trust. They head to Springfield, where they hope to find Jake's Uncle Gabe. As they try to unravel the mystery of what the intruders are really after -- and why they're still pursuing the frightened trio -- they wind up in a terrifying confrontation that blurs the past and present.
Is It Any Good?
Conspiracy theorists, history buffs, and action fans will find plenty to enjoy in this fast-paced adventure, which recovers from an awkward start and goes full-tilt right to the cliffhanger ending. Television and movie producer Brian Wells brings his cinematic background to THE LEAGUE AND THE LANTERN. He crams in everything: covert groups manipulating history, hidden identities, secrets hidden in plain sight, high-tech gadgets, cloning, high-octane chases, and more. Several fun set pieces (a fight on a plane in the museum, a wrestling match among three Lincolns and his foes) and gags (TJ's hunger, Lucy's martial arts reflexes) make up for occasionally inconsistent, clumsy writing.
The bad guys are after wealth and power (of course), but the good guys are devoted to freedom and Lincoln's ideals -- the president's words provide moral guidance to several characters. An author's note separating fact from fiction would have been helpful; readers are directed instead to the book's website.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of conspiracy theories. Why are they such a common element in action and adventure stories?
Do you find the muddling of fact and fiction confusing? Do stories like this make you want to better understand the true history?
Do you think this action story works well as a book or would be better as a movie?
Book Details
- Author: Brian Wells
- Genre: Adventure
- Topics: Adventures , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , History , Middle School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Republic Ink
- Publication date: May 16, 2016
- Number of pages: 282
- Available on: Nook, Hardback
- Last updated: June 30, 2016
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