In the Time Warp Trio's fourteenth heart-pounding escapade, the three young Brooklyn friends set out to discover who invented the Book, the magic catalyst to their time-travel adventures. Their quest projects them to sixteenth-century Italy, where they meet Leonardo da Vinci, outwit Machiavelli, and learn something about famous inventors and their discoveries (the discussion of Thomas Crapper will be a particular hit). This adventure feels a bit less substantial than some of the others in the series, and a few of the specifics of the team's escapes may leave readers a bit confused. But the encounter with da Vinci, who is portrayed as a goofy practical joker, is thrilling, and as usual, the fast action and spot-on humor carry the plot. Illustrations, including new interpretations of da Vinci's work, were not available in galley.

Narrator Joe and friends Fred and Sam time-travel to Renaissance Italy where they meet Leonardo. The central conflict--the boys must create an invention for the Italian army or face conscription--seems like a pro forma plot device in this short novel whose primary appeal is its fast pace, silly humor, and constant action. Arch, cartoony black-and-white art appears throughout.

Gr 3-5 In this 14th title in the series, Sam decides that Leonardo da Vinci invented The Book that sent the Trio into different eras in past adventures. Sam, Fred, and Joe wind up in front of Leonardo and a new weapon that he decides to test on them. It seems that he is just as much of a prankster as Joe as the guns shoot flags that say, "Rombo!" (purported to be Italian for "Bang!"). Leonardo has a deadline to fulfill Lord Borgia's demand for a weapon of mass destruction, and Fred comes up with the idea of building a dam, forcing the town of Urbo to surrender peacefully without a water source. Numerous black-and-white, cartoon illustrations are sprinkled throughout the text, enticing a transitional-reader audience. One large, double-page picture shows Da Vinci's studio. Text and art make reference to his fascination with geometry, to the Mona Lisa, and to his backward writing style. (Mirror writing is used in chapter headings.) Fans will relish this new installment. Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI