ALA Booklist (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Mixing history, humor, and cartoon illustrations, Sheinkin's new series for young readers blends the appeal of Scieszka's Time Warp Trio, Osborne's Magic Tree House, and Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. In the opener, stepsiblings Abby, who is white, and Doc, who is black, are bored with history. But their boredom is unfortunately contagious and even affects the famous figures they are studying. When Abe Lincoln travels in time and pays them a visit, he warns that a lack of interest in history could have dire consequences oven true when he decides to abscond from Springfield, Illinois, on the night of his election so that he can try out being a pro wrestler. Will Lincoln get a turn in the ring? Will Abby and Doc convince him to go back and take his place in the historical record? And furthermore, will more adventures ensue? Well, that's a pretty good bet. Sheinkin seems to be having fun with the concept, a departure from his award-winning nonfiction, and readers are likely to enjoy this, too.

Horn Book (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

When stepsiblings Doc and Abby come face-to-face with time-displaced Abraham Lincoln, it's up to them to fix history. In the new series' second volume, the duo travels back in time to persuade Abigail Adams, who has joined a pirate crew, that being First Lady is not boring. Sheinkin expertly slips in interesting facts and true events. Swaab's black-and-white spot illustrations add to the comedic tone.

Kirkus Reviews (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

In the debut volume of the Time Twisters series, Abraham Lincoln arrives at Abby and Doc's school to prove that history isn't boring.But history certainly seems boring when students read in their textbook: "Abraham Lincoln turned to the next page of the newspaper. He took a sip of coffee. He put his feet up on his desk. He read some more." Even Ms. Maybee admits the book is "a little dry." Fortunately, Lincoln arrives via a cardboard box in the storage room to rescue history. It's stories that make history interesting, and they've disappeared from the textbooks. Miffed, Lincoln returns to his own time, and Abby and Doc follow him ("like The Magic Treehouse," Abby notes). He says he and his fellow historical characters—Pocahontas, Washington, Harriet Tubman—can hear students snoring in class and are fed up. "Since you insist on saying our lives are boring, well then, we'll show you," Lincoln says, announcing that he's quitting history. In the course of a silly tale, Sheinkin leads his protagonists to the stories that make Lincoln and his times interesting, which prompts them to find a way to get them back into the books. In Swaab's illustrations, Abby seems to be white and Doc, black. By the end, readers will have learned quite a bit of history along with the protagonists, without being bored at all. When young readers are ready, they can move on to Sheinkin's not-boring histories, such as Bomb (2012).A silly story that weaves in a fair amount of history. (historical note) (Historical fiction. 7-10)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Sheinkin (Undefeated) kicks off the Time Twisters series with two titles, including this lively Abraham Lincoln-themed romp. When stepsiblings Doc and Abby express their distaste for learning about history, Lincoln himself emerges from a cardboard box portal to give them an earful. After they follow Lincoln back in time, he informs them that he and other famous figures are sick of being called dull: -Since you insist on saying our lives are boring, well then we-ll show you. You can read about us sitting in chairs, staring at the wall. See how you like it.- Swaab-s b&w cartoons play up the outlandish circumstances as Sheinkin has Lincoln facing off against a professional wrestler before recognizing that he needs to return to his rightful historical role (an afterword reveals the ways in which Sheinkin used real-life details about Lincoln, including his tendency to crack jokes). The truth about historical figures, Sheinkin suggests, is more interesting than the myths, and Lincoln-s story concludes with hints about the historical mix-ups that will figure into subsequent books. Available simultaneously: Abigail Adams, Pirate of the Caribbean. Ages 7-10. Illustrator-s agency: Shannon Associates. (Jan.)

School Library Journal (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

POPGr 3-5 Everyone in Abby's class hates history, especially her stepbrother, Doc. At the end of the school day, when Abby and Doc are waiting for their mom in the library storage room, they hear a thump coming from inside one of the cardboard boxes. Suddenly, out jumps Abraham Lincoln. He has traveled through time to let the students know that because of their complaints, he and other famous people have decided to quit history. This is where Abby's and Doc's exciting adventure begins. They must undo the damage they have done so that Abraham Lincoln will show up to the election and win the presidency. In this first book of the "Mixed-up History" series, Sheinkin combines historical facts with outlandish time travel antics. His historical note at the end encourages readers to "look it up" to find evidence of the unbelievable facts he shares about notable historical figures. Black-and-white line drawings reinforce the silliness of the story, while the short chapters will keep reluctant readers hooked. VERDICT A fun way to entice students to embrace what might seem, at first glance, like boring history. Annette Herbert, F.E. Smith Elementary School, Cortland, NY