Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tweens battle time-traveling pirates in exciting adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Every year, the students of Finistere have to do a project about which three people, living or dead, they'd invite to dinner, what they'd serve, and what they'd talk about. In theory, TIME VILLAINS aren't on the guest list, but sixth-grader Javi Santiago, determined to create an epic "dinner" and avoid flunking, unwittingly invites Blackbeard the Pirate. Which might not be such an issue, except the weird dining room table Javi's dad got at a thrift store seems to have unusual properties -- like actually causing the invitees to appear at the table. Blackbeard, who's finding time travel a great way to escape the gruesome fate that awaits him in his own era, is making the most of the situation. As Javi, his brainiac Haitian American friend Wiki, and his fierce little sister Brady grapple with villains from another era, some of the other characters they've summoned, from Cleopatra and Rosa Parks to Mozart as a 10-year-old, lend vital assistance. And a number of faculty members seem to have more going on than meets the eye. But will it be enough to stop the onslaught of time-traveling evildoers hard at work on their Talk Like a Pirate skills? Unknown.
Is It Any Good?
In this epic series start, Puerto Rican siblings and their brainiac Haitian American pal match wits with time-traveling pirates. In short order Javi, Brady, and Wiki are trying to keep Blackbeard and the other Time Villains from pillaging our world. As author Victor Piñeiro's exciting plot unfolds, the kids receive helpful assistance from historical figures, literary characters, and the occasional goddess -- all of whom come with stories, and seem likely to return for further adventures in further installments. Research, libraries, the quest for knowledge, and a lot of creative cooking all serve our heroes well.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the time-travel in Time Villains. Why do you think this is such a popular theme? What other time-traveling tales are your favorites?
Were any of the historic or fictional characters in Time Villains new to you? Which ones would you like to find out more about?
If you could invite any three people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be? What food would you serve? What would you talk about?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Sourcebooks for Young Readers
- Publication date : July 6, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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