Journey to Gonzales

Melodie A. Cuate's third installment of Mr. Barrington's Mysterious Trunk Series, Journey to Gonzales, opens with the disappearance of despondent teenager Nick Taylor. Nick is on a mission and travels through time via the mysterious trunk in Mr. Barrington's attic, hoping to return to the Battle of San Jacinto, where he lost his friend Diego. Instead, Nick finds himself in Gonzales, Texas, in1835, six months before the battle. He is befriended by Alamo defenders William King, John Gaston, and Galba Fuqua and becomes caught up in the "Come and Take It" event precipitating the Battle of Gonzales. In pursuit of Nick, sister Hannah and her friend, Jackie, are transported by the trunk as well, ending up in the same place and time, but on a different side of the escalation, and eventually with the Alamo de Parras Company of dragoons. Their experience with the Mexicans provides a wonderful differing point of view for the middle school reader. Journey to Gonzales is peppered with historical facts within the action and dialogue of the story. Cuate is able to make history exciting and interesting for young adults as she brings the historical characters alive with dialogue and interaction with Hannah, Jackie and Nick. History becomes more than words on a page; the reader finds appreciation for patriotism and this period of history in the United States. Included: a timeline, brief bios on the historical characters and English translations for the Spanish phrases used within the story. by Judy Miller for Story Circle Book Reviews reviewing books by, for, and about women

Book three in the "Mr. Barrington's Mysterious Trunk" series, Journey to Gonzales continues the series of historical time-travel fiction for young adults, blending educational insight into Texas history with exciting adventure. Young Nick, troubled by the loss of a friend at the Battle of San Jacinto, returns to Mr. Barrington's trunk hoping to change history, yet this time the trunk magically transports him to Gonzales, Texas in 1835. Nick meets historical characters including young Alamo defenders William King, John Gaston, and Galba Fuqua, and becomes caught up in the tangled skein of events leading toward the Battle of Gonzales. Meanwhile, Hannah and Jackie are searching for Nick in hopes of bringing him home safely, yet when Hannah falls down a riverbank, Lieutenant Ramirez, part of the Alamo de Parras Company of dragoons tasked with retrieving the Gonzales "Come and Take It" cannon. Escorted to Ramirez's camp, the girls see firsthand the Mexican army and their point of view of the rising tensions in Texas. An eye-opening adventure that literally makes history come alive for young readers, and is sure to whet the reader's appetite for learning more. Also highly recommended are the previous books in the series, "Journey to the Alamo" and "Journey to San Jacinto".