Two orphans, a border collie, and a nutty inventor travel to the Viking Age. What could possibly go wrong?
Faced with a troubling vision but armed with the knowledge that their previous trips through time changed history for the better, Johnny, Ella, Ginny, and Shawn set off on a new adventure – this time to Denmark, in the year 903.
Their arrival plunges them into the heart of a Viking blood feud. Encountering thieves, raiders, the roaring North Sea, and a ruthless Viking warlord, the group must find a way to fix history and save themselves as well as the lives of innocent victims. But with someone as quirky as Shawn on your team, quite a lot can go wrong.
In an adventure on land and at sea, during a time when mighty longships lurk in the waters like mythical beasts, they will need all their ingenuity and cunning. This time, they will have to overcome their own fears and draw upon everything they have learned so far. Because this time, the enemy has his sights set on them.
Sometimes, to beat a Viking you need to think like a pirate – or a knight!
Two orphans, a border collie, and a nutty inventor travel to the Viking Age. What could possibly go wrong?
Faced with a troubling vision but armed with the knowledge that their previous trips through time changed history for the better, Johnny, Ella, Ginny, and Shawn set off on a new adventure – this time to Denmark, in the year 903.
Their arrival plunges them into the heart of a Viking blood feud. Encountering thieves, raiders, the roaring North Sea, and a ruthless Viking warlord, the group must find a way to fix history and save themselves as well as the lives of innocent victims. But with someone as quirky as Shawn on your team, quite a lot can go wrong.
In an adventure on land and at sea, during a time when mighty longships lurk in the waters like mythical beasts, they will need all their ingenuity and cunning. This time, they will have to overcome their own fears and draw upon everything they have learned so far. Because this time, the enemy has his sights set on them.
Sometimes, to beat a Viking you need to think like a pirate – or a knight!
“Faster!” Johnny shouted at the top of his lungs over the roar of the raging sea. The enemy was getting closer. Johnny’s fingers were so cold he could no longer feel them, so he wrapped his arms around the mast of the Viking longboat as it tossed about like a leaf in a storm. Each time a wave hit, the boat rose high into the air, until Johnny was staring straight up at the cloudy sky. As scary as that was, the drop was even worse – a steep nose-dive into black water followed by a crash into the foamy sea below. Every time, gallons of icy water sprayed over the deck and all the wooden planks creaked in agony. And every time, Johnny was certain they would sink. “Row faster!”
The howling wind drowned out his voice, but the burly Vikings manning the oars knew what he wanted. All eight men heaved and pulled with all their might, their faces and hands red from the effort and bitter cold. Everyone was wet to the bone, clothes matted with a mixture of icy water and sweat, but they pressed on for dear life.
A middle-aged Viking with a leathery, weather-worn face stumbled towards Johnny. “They’re going to catch us!” He pointed to the silhouette of a massive longship some distance behind them. There, it loomed like a dark shadow, the glass eyes of its dragon head reflecting the dim light as if alive. With each minute, it inched ever closer. “Soon they will be in arrow range. That’s if we don’t sink first. This little boat was not made for the open sea.”
Johnny glanced at his sister, Ella, who was huddled on the deck, her small body half-covered in a tarp. When their eyes met, he felt her fear down into the pit of his stomach. “Can’t we do something?” he asked the Viking.
The man shook his head. “Everything we don’t need has been cast overboard to make us lighter, and we’re using all the oars. There’s nothing left.”
“What about the sail?” said Johnny.
“Impossible. The storm will tear it right off.” The man pointed towards the horizon, where a few rays of light broke through the canopy of clouds. “We’re nearly out of the storm, but it won’t help. They’ll raise their sail too.”
Johnny felt his heart sink. They had run out of options, and he had no idea what to do.
“How about you come up here and give it a try?” the Viking shouted.
         Johnny frowned. “What on earth do you mean?”
         “Hey, Johnny, are you with us?” he said, his hands on his hips. “How about you come up here and give it a try?”
         Johnny woke up with a start. He blinked a few times, confused and disoriented. Around him children were giggling. It took a few moments to remember where he was. He was at school during English class, and he had fallen asleep with his head on his desk.
         “How about you come up here and give it a try,” the silver-haired teacher repeated, her hands on her hips. She smiled at him. “I know we’re all tired, but it’s nearly time to go home.”
Johnny felt everyone’s eyes turn in his direction, and an icy chill ran down his back. In his previous adventures, he had travelled back in time and faced off against an evil knight in medieval England and then against a fearsome pirate who terrorized the seas of the Caribbean. Yet none of that compared to the terror he felt right now. “Uhm,” he mumbled. “Can’t I just do it from here, Mrs. Christensen?” His green eyes pleaded with his teacher, like a lost puppy.
“Come now, Johnny,” Mrs. Christensen said, waving him over. “Do it from up here where everyone can see you.”
Johnny got up and walked to the whiteboard. When he turned to face the class, his heart was pounding like a war drum. Mrs. Christensen patted him on the back and sat down in her chair, waiting for him to begin.
Johnny cleared his throat and took a few deep breaths. Then he began reciting the poem that they had been asked to learn for today. It was a poem published in 1923 by Robert Frost, called Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. Quickly, he rattled off verse after verse, shifting from one foot to the other as he spoke. Finally, he got to the end:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, Â
But I have promises to keep, Â
And miles to go before I sleep, Â
And miles to go before I sleep.
Johnny stopped. There was pin-drop silence.
“Very good,” said Mrs. Christensen. She clapped and motioned for Johnny to return to his seat. “You did well, but next time, try to put more feeling into the words. Don’t just memorize and repeat, try to understand what the poem is saying.”
Johnny nodded and scurried back to his seat. He was glad it was over. Who needed poetry anyway? What possible use could it have?
         When the bell rang, it could not have been soon enough. Johnny grabbed his bag and walked into the hallway just as kids began pouring out of the classrooms, like criminals breaking out of jail. Johnny scanned the crowd until he spotted the small nine-year-old girl with big brown eyes and a little ponytail. She waved at him.
         “Hey, Ella,” Johnny said to his little sister. “Ready to go home?”
         Home for Johnny and Ella was an orphanage run by the ruthless, iron-fisted Regina. Although the place looked like a gorgeous mansion from the outside, the kids who lived there spent most of their time doing chores or being cooped up in their tiny rooms.
         Ella gave him a big thumbs up and swung her schoolbag onto her back. “I hope we don’t have a lot of work tonight.”
         “Me too,” said Johnny. “But I wouldn’t get my hopes up.”
"Time travels at different speeds for different people. I can tell you who time strolls for, who it trots for, and who it stops cold for."- William Shakespeare. Rest assured, time gallops at full speed ahead for Johhny, Ella, Ginny, and Shawn. As they once again set off on another hair raising, yet wildly comical time traveling adventure in The Viking, the Ditch, and the Bathrobe (Shawn From the Shed book 3) written by Alan Frost.
Poor Johhny and his sister Ella are trapped in a dismal world. A world run by a mean ogre named Regina. She is the caretaker of the two orphans. On the outside their home is a lovely mansion, but on the inside it's a dreary dungeon full of chores and homework. Orphan Annie had it good compared to these two.
Yet despite their dismal existence, the brother and sister duo have found a shining beacon of light. Shawn, the brother of Regina. While Shawn isn't always quick on the uptake, he's actually a savant who has created of all things, a time machine.
Previously, Shawn's time machine transported everyone to an an invigorating joust with an evil knight and a rousing escapade with pirates. And this romp through time is no less exciting and quite a bit bellicose. It seems that Denmark in the year 903 is a time of feuds much like the Hatfield's and the McCoy's of our day. And of course the ever present threat of someone wanting to conquer and plunder someone else's spoils.
Frost's audience is middle school aged children (but is fun for all ages) and with each book he manages to capture the attention of readers with day to day reality for the featured time period. And also teach a little history. This time he even adds poetry into the mix. If I had only know the importance of poetry I wouldn't have griped so much about having to learn Stoping By Woods On A Snowy Evening - by Robert Frost (and yes, I still remember every word and line of the poem).
I give The Viking, the Ditch, and the Bathrobe (Shawn From the Shed book 3) by Alan Frost, 5 out of 5 stars. For making history fun and exciting. I can't wait for the next installment.
"Better spend time waiting for the opportunity to take a chance than miss the chance."- William Shakespeare. So, don't miss your chance to check out the latest edition of The Viking, the Ditch, and the Bathrobe (Shawn From the Shed book 3). Don't let time pass you by.