The year is 2061, and Caleb’s world is crashing down around him. The small group of orphans who were also “adopted” by Uncle used to feel like family, but both the competition to be the top time snatcher and the punishment for failure have gotten fierce. Time traveling to steal priceless objects can be a thrill, but with bully Frank trying to steal his snatches, his partner Abbie falling for Frank’s slimy charms, and Uncle planning to kidnap innocent kids to grow his business, Caleb starts thinking about getting out. But there is no place on earth, past or present, that is safe from Uncle’s tentacles, and runaways get the harshest punishment of all. Will Caleb risk everything to fight for the future he dreams about?
The Trailer
Reviews:
Quill & Quire
"Time Snatchers delivers on the allure of a good era-jumping narrative. In addition to cool gadgets, readers get a glimpse of real historical events, such as the invention of photography and the Frisbee.
It’s especially refreshing that, far from being the token love interest or sidekick, Abbie is a smart, sweet, and self-sufficient partner who helps Caleb out of hot water when he gets into trouble.
A sequel is on its way, which is a good thing as there are plenty of characters to flesh out, and no limit to where – or when – the series could go."
Publishers Weekly
"In this exciting first novel... 13-year-old Caleb has spent most of his life with Uncle, a cruel Fagin-like thief master who has perfected time travel and sends his child thieves into the past to steal historical treasures. Ungar keeps his tale moving with frequent jumps into the past, does a good job of portraying a variety of historical time periods, and comes up with some unusual “snatches” for the young thieves (the first photograph, the first Frisbee). ...plenty entertaining."
Booklist *Starred Review*
"Ungar’s debut novel offers a complex and compelling story that trusts imaginative readers to consider the various roles that wits, brawn, and technology can play in a time-travel adventure."
Fresh Ink Blog
"... an exciting, adventurous, and fun novel... This book is intriguing and interesting, with its advanced technology and Caleb's exciting missions. The author does a great job of painting a picture in the reader's mind of all the places and times Caleb travels to. This is a great read for adventure lovers."
Mabel's Fables Blog
"...a very compelling and exciting adventure. The story happens in many different times and places, each presented vividly. Each time-travel segment is exciting in a new and different way, and the larger plot is delicately woven into each theft mission. Excellent settings bring colour and variety to the plot.
The characters are complicated and interesting, with new qualities and perspectives coming to light for every scene they're in. Especially well-written is Uncle, whose vicious rationality has all the charm of a good James Bond villain. The plot clips along very quickly and clearly. It was a quick read, and relatively light; a great read for action/adventure fans."
E A Younker Blog
"Though I really enjoyed the idea of stealing things from history, I read the book because of the characters. ... a good introduction to science fiction and I highly recommend it to anyone of any age."
