The Portal

November 15, 2018
A "time gypsy," 11-year-old Rose travels between 21st-century Indianapolis and 16th-century England searching for her father.Budding fashionista Rose designs clothing and writes a popular fashion blog. She's never known her father, so following her mother's untimely death, Rose goes to live with her slightly dotty grandmother, who treats her with "general indifference." At school she's immediately targeted by the Mean Queens, a trio of cruel girls known for destructive bullying. Drawn to her grandmother's otherworldly Tudor-style greenhouse, Rose tumbles backward in time to Hatfield, home of Princess Elizabeth, banished daughter of Henry VIII. Hired as Elizabeth's chambermaid, Rose finds herself embroiled in palace politics. When she receives a locket containing a modern photo of her with her mother and an unidentified man, Rose suspects he could be her father. Toggling between contemporary life with her grandmother and 16th-century life searching for her father, Rose fits amazingly (even incredibly) well into past and present, growing especially close with dairymaid Franny. Diary entries, letters, blog posts, and photos add pizzazz. A strong subtext comparing contemporary teen bullying to Tudor mockery of court dwarfs and fools proves relevant, though the term "gypsy" goes unquestioned. The ending offers a revelation about Franny and leaves Rose in the 16th century, ripe for further adventure. A convincing, compelling new time-travel series rife with Tudor drama. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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February 1, 2019

Gr 4-7-An orphaned tween fashion blogger travels back and forth between Elizabethan England and present-day America, searching for a place to call home. Fashionista Rose Ashley moves in with her grandmother after the unexpected death of Rose's single mother. Her forgetful grandmother only connects with Rose when they work together in her greenhouse, and it's there that Rose first tumbles through time and finds herself a 16th century servant of the future Queen Elizabeth I. As Rose tries to figure out how the time travel process works, each world presents similar experiences navigating friendships, bullies, and family connections. Then the possibility arises that she may reunite with the father she's never met. Lasky's descriptive writing illuminates her enthusiasm for the times of the House of Tudor. The time travel premise is exciting, but the sudden shifts between worlds can be confusing. The young protagonist must grapple with numerous issues in addition to her time traveling dilemma: the death of a parent, bullying, online fame, and searching for a biological parent. The result overwhelms rather than captivates, occasionally becoming downright frustrating. VERDICT Readers who enjoy plot twists and turns will embrace this historical fantasy.-Casey O'Leary, Mooresville P.L., IN

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 20, 2019
After her mother dies in a car crash, middle-schooler Rose is sent from Philadelphia to live with her grandmother in Indianapolis. At her new school, Rose befriends Myles, a boy with cerebral palsy, who becomes her ally against a trio of mean girls as the school year progresses. Then, while exploring her grandmother’s greenhouse, Rose finds herself periodically transported back to Hatfield House, home of Princess Elizabeth during her exile from Henry VIII’s court. Soon, Rose becomes a regular time-traveler, taking on the role of a trusted advisor to the young royal. Bouncing between the periods, Rose deals with courtly intrigue, middle-school bullies, and a deepening mystery regarding her father. Lasky (The Days of Forever Frost) sets up an engaging premise in this series opener, but the mechanics of Rose’s time travel are somewhat fuzzy, and the contemporary setting is more vividly realized than the Tudor past. Still, the parallels between each era’s bullies and the playful contrasts between Rose’s modern sensibilities and her historical surroundings contribute to an entertaining story with an intriguing family mystery. Numerous open questions will help lead readers to the future planned volumes. Ages 8–12. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.