2019 Finalist National Indie Excellence Award Young Adult Fiction 2019 eLit Award-Winner in the Juvenile/YA Fiction Category”…a riveting fantasy about soul-searching and growth which will keep young adult readers engrossed to the end.” –with credit to D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book ReviewHow did Albert Einstein come up with his wondrous theories of light and time?In Einstein’s … did Albert Einstein come up with his wondrous theories of light and time?
In Einstein’s Compass: A YA Time Traveler Adventure, a young Albert is given a supernatural compass that allows him to travel through time and space, and find wisdom in other dimensions, including the lost city of Atlantis. But evil forces seek the power of the compass, including a monstrous, shape-shifting dragon from a different age. Can the compass protect Albert from such villainy?more
I’ve been looking forward to reading Einstein’s Compass for awhile. The blub just seemed so unique, I knew I had to give it a shot. Young Einstein traveling through time and space? Cool, count me in.
I honestly had trouble setting this one down. It’s very fast paced, and I just wanted to keep reading. I really appreciate the intelligently put together plot. There was clearly an immense amount of research done for this book and it shows. A lot of times, I found myself thinking, “this could have really happened.” That’s a testament to fantastic writing.
This is a story that plays on good vs. evil. Admittedly, there were some gruesome scenes I was surprised by, solely because this is marketed as YA, but I don’t think anything went too far and it did very well showcasing just how evil people can be.
I’m a fan of Einstein’s Compass. I think it was written really well, with clear research and love for the story. I recommend checking this out if you want to read something unique.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with YA Bound Book Tours. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com
Time Travel – check
Historical – check
YA – check
Fantasy – check
Fascinating read – check
As you can see, this book checked off a lot of boxes for me and what I like to read. (Ok, the fantasy genre depends on the book). But this melds the past and present, time travel, and even some religious aspects with great ease. I noticed that the book was well researched because many facts of Albert Einstein’s life matched up to another book I read last year, so that made me happy that I didn’t have to run off and figure out which book was right and which one was wrong!
This is a classic good vs. evil plot line – but with some unique twists. There are light workers which could translate to Guardian Angel in a way since that is how one appears to young Albert when he needs some help. They are on the religious side because there are references to Jesus, Moses and other biblical figures you might recognize. Then there is Raka who has managed to survive many centuries only to awake to create havoc in his quest for the Compass which he feels will grant him anything he desires.
There are many characters that are woven into this story that add dimension and kept me engaged in the story from start to finish. The story was a fairly steady pace until the end as the conflict between Einstein and Raka escalated and the story really took off and moved at a fast pace.
There are times that I gasped at certain events that crushed my heart and other times that I was amazed at the depths of evil from various characters. I wondered about their sanity but they were the right balance to offset the good characters so that the story wasn’t overly sweet and innocent.
We enjoyed this book and give it 5 paws up!
Midwest Book Reviews
Diane Donovan, Senior Editor
What if Einstein’s remarkable theories came from his personal journeys through space and time? Einstein’s Compass: a YA Time Traveler Adventure blends this premise into a broader examination of mythology as it opens with a brief glimpse of life in Atlantis and moves to the dilemmas surrounding Raka, a fallen Angel of Light. The spiritual shudder he experienced an eon ago leads to his theft of a vial of DNA and exposes the resentment he holds for his uncle, who won’t share secrets with him.
He seeks rewards and recognition from the Council of the Sons of Belial in exchange for betraying his fellow Atlanteans, but the secret of the Firestone crystal continues to elude him.
This is a YA read; but it should be mentioned that graphic violence is part of the storyline (“…with a ghastly smile, Raka viciously yanked the general’s hand and ripped the general’s entire arm from its socket. As his victim screamed in terror and agony, Raka regarded the arm thoughtfully. He began to gnaw on it with relish. The general lived long enough to see Raka devour his other arm and start on his legs. He did not live long enough to see Raka transform into a perfect replica of the man he was consuming.”). Such descriptions may give pause to adults seeking ‘clean’ reading for teens, but these moments are in keeping with plot development and are not excessive in appearance, nor over-emphasized.
Young Albert Einstein is in possession of a compass that allows him to travel in time and space. Unfortunately, he holds a coveted key to not just enlightenment, but power, and he soon discovers that dangerous supernatural forces from different eras are also searching for his prize.
Readers anticipating the usual timeslip saga may at first be surprised by the inclusion of and focus on these supernatural entities. As Raka stalks his unsuspecting prey, willing to pay the karmic price for assaulting the holder of the prized Shamir, Albert faces the death of a beloved friend, an increasing awareness of his power and its danger, and a journey that embraces not just mythological forces, but Biblical times, Jesus, and Albert’s own roots in Atlantis.
These subplots lend complexity to Einstein’s Compass that will be intriguing and absorbing to mature YA readers; especially prior fans of timeslip sagas more used to such stories holding historical rather than fantasy backgrounds.
Under Grace Blair and Laren Bright’s hands, Einstein’s Compass is more than just another time travel story, but one of soul searching, enlightenment, and classic struggles between good and evil. During this journey, young Albert embraces the threat of death and world-changing perspectives.
Indeed, Albert will change the world, one day. But the roots of his knowledge and endeavors take a different turn in a riveting fantasy about soul-searching and growth which will keep young adult readers engrossed to the end.