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Overview
The third installment in an epic series of adventures
First Earth
Fourteen-year-old Bobby Pendragon is a loyal friend, sports star, devoted pet owner -- and Traveler. Along with his uncle Press, Bobby has visited the alternate dimension of Denduron and participated in a civil war. He's also waded through the endangered underwater territory of Cloral. Now Bobby once again finds himself thrust beyond the boundaries of time and space into a place that seems somewhat familiar: First Earth.
Bobby and the Traveler from Cloral -- Spader -- have flumed to New York City, 1937. Against a backdrop of gangsters, swing music, and the distant sound of a brewing war, the two must uncover the evil Saint Dane's newest plot. But is Bobby ready for the difficult choices ahead?
It sure looks like Earth, but 15-year-old Bobby Pendragon, a Traveler, is not so sure. After following his uncle on a mission to save the world, Bobby has returned to Earth--only it's 1937 and the 21st-century protagonist is a little out of his depth.
Synopsis
Bobby Pendragon has visited the alternate dimension of Denduron and waded through the endangered underwater territory of Cloral. Now Bobby once again finds himself thrust beyond the boundaries of time and space into a place that seems somewhat familiar: First Earth.
Bobby and the Traveler from Cloral—Spader—have flumed to New York City, 1937, where they must uncover the evil Saint Dane’s newest plot. But is Bobby ready for the difficult choices ahead?
Publishers Weekly
Also voyaging through time, the 14-year-old hero of the Pendragon series lands in 1937 New York City, on "First Earth," in The Never War by D.J. MacHale. Bobby and Spader (introduced in the previous installment, The Lost City of Faar) must find their old foe, Saint Dane, and figure out his latest plot. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
In this episode of D. J. McHale's fantasy adventure, Bobby Pendragon travels to Ibarra, a remote tropical island paradise. Its inhabitants lead simple, primitive lives, but lights and other signs of modern technologies are also mysteriously present. Bobby isn't the only person mystified by this strange disconnect: A small tribe of kids have banded together to track down the real story behind Ibarra. A much-awaited addition to a popular series.Publishers Weekly
Also voyaging through time, the 14-year-old hero of the Pendragon series lands in 1937 New York City, on "First Earth," in The Never War by D.J. MacHale. Bobby and Spader (introduced in the previous installment, The Lost City of Faar) must find their old foe, Saint Dane, and figure out his latest plot. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
A traveler who can go back to the past or into the future, Bobby Pendragon is not a normal fourteen-year-old boy. In this third book of MacHale's "Pendragon" series, Bobby is trying once again to stop the evil Saint Dane. Bobby finds himself going back to 1937 in New York City for his new adventure. With the help of his friends Gunny and Spader, Bobby must figure out how to stop Saint Dane's plan before the future is destroyed. The only way Bobby can stop Saint Dane is to make sure the past stays the same. Or should the past stay the same? Bobby must make the ultimate sacrifices to ensure a safe future. Will he make the right choices, or will he change the future forever? MacHale keeps readers guessing what will happen next... until the very end. This will be Bobby's biggest adventure yet because he must make his decisions before time runs out. MacHale's characters come to life in this breathtaking adventure. The story's gangsters and the stirring war make readers feel like they are in the past with Bobby. MacHale takes the readers to a new time that focuses on the war ahead. He uses major events in history, such as the Hindenburg's crash, to capture readers' attention while helping them learn about the past. The journey allows readers to understand how life was after the Great Depression and before a horrendous war. MacHale's words keep readers interested and entertained expanding on the imagination of children while helping them learn a little more about history. 2003, Aladdin Paperbacks/Simon & Schuster, Ages 10 up.— Alyson Basden
VOYA
I found this book to be average. The beginning is quite confusing because it does not recap what happened in the previous two books, leaving a newcomer to the series completely lost. As the story progresses, however, the reader is able to figure out most of the story. It has a great deal of action and a few surprises, some of which are predictable. I would recommend this book to teens who like books about time traveling. VOYA Codes: 4Q 4P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2003, Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, 352p,— John Kelly, Teen Reviewer