In this funny sequel to Gutman's Qwerty Stevens Back in Time: The Edison Mystery (2001), Qwerty accidentally sets Thomas Edison's secret Anytime Anywhere Machine into action once again. The machine first transports Benjamin Franklin into Qwerty's bedroom, then returns him, along with Qwerty and his pal Joey, back to eighteenth-century Philadelphia. Franklin emerges as a colorful character with original opinions, a keen appreciation of modern technology, aphorisms for all occasions, and manners that charm even twenty-first-century women. Franklin's juxtaposition to the modern world, and particularly his visit to Qwerty's seventh-grade classroom, provides a great deal of humor as well as some thought-provoking moments. Less amusing but certainly instructive is the boys' quick trip to colonial Philadelphia. It provides an accessible, unusually human fictional portrayal of the approval of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, complete with a snappish Adams and a snarling Jefferson. In an appended section, Gutman separates some of the historical facts in the book from its fictional framework.

Qwerty, who discovered the Anytime Anywhere Machine in The Edison Mystery, accidentally causes the device to bring Benjamin Franklin into the twenty-first century. Qwerty and his friend Joey then travel back in time to witness the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The writing is breezy, but much of the novel's historical information is didactic, while its overdrawn villain seems straight out of a B-movie.

In this laugh-out-loud sequel to The Edison Mystery (not reviewed), seventh-grade computer whiz Qwerty Stevens sucks Ben Franklin out of the past for a tour of the modern world, then follows him back to 1776 to witness the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Pulling a history report off the Internet (for which he gets into deep doo-doo later), Qwerty accidentally activates his "Anywhere Anytime" machine—and suddenly there's an old man in tights sitting on his bed. Marveling at such wonders as light switches and pencil sharpeners, uttering strings of apothegms (" The more a man has, the more he wants. Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it. He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money' ") and hitting on every woman he meets, Franklin proves to be the hero of the piece, calmly confronting a bully in Qwerty's class, then later outwitting deranged thief Ashley Quadrel who, as in the previous adventure, follows Qwerty back in time with the intent of wreaking havoc on the past. Gutman separates historical fact, of which there is a considerable amount here, from fiction in an afterword, then closes with an appreciation of Franklin's inventions and other accomplishments. The author gives Qwerty a mild case of ADD, just to jump on that bandwagon, but his light touch makes this a painless introduction to a pivotal person in American history as well as a knee-slapper for "Time Warp Trio" fans. (Fiction. 10-13)

Gr 5-8-When Robert "Qwerty" Stevens, 13, realizes that he has a report on the American Revolution due in a couple of hours, he copies information directly from the Web and scans in a picture of Benjamin Franklin. Suddenly, the statesman is sitting on the teen's bed, zapped through time by the Anytime Anywhere Machine, which is connected to the computer. Franklin, who is fascinated by 21st-century gadgets, accompanies the boy to class, where he charms the teacher, who thinks he is an impersonator, and expounds on the Revolutionary period. After school, Qwerty and a friend decide to go to 1776 Philadelphia with Franklin for the signing of the Declaration of Independence; however, they are in such a hurry that they forget to arrange a return to the present. A combination of fantasy, history, and adventure, this clever, fast-paced successor to Qwerty Stevens, Back in Time: The Edison Mystery (S & S, 2001) is sure to keep readers' attention, and Gutman's characterization of Franklin is memorable. There are several illustrations, including a portrait of the statesman; a chronology of his life and achievements; and an author's note that corrects some historical myths. This novel is a perfect choice for booktalking and reading aloud to students, particularly those who enjoyed Jon Scieszka's "Time Warp Trio" series (Viking).-Doris Losey, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library, Tampa, FL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.