“TIMERIDERS: The Doomsday Code,” by Alex Scarrow, Walker Children’s, Oct. 16, 2012, Hardcover $16.99, (young adult)
There are a number of books in Alex Scarrow’s Time Riders series — nine total are planned. I didn’t realize this when I started reading “The Doomsday Code,” which is the third book in the series. It appears three more have been published in the U.K. and will eventually be released in the U.S.
Even though I began in the middle of the series, I didn’t feel completely lost, only minorly so. In fact, it was so well-written, I easily and hungrily devoured “The Doomsday Code.”
The series features Maddy, Liam, and Sal, three teenagers that were saved moments before death to become agents for TimeRiders, a group created to stop time travel from destroying the world. Each book centers on a major change in the historical timeline that the teens must fix.
In the case of “The Doomsday Code,” a British computer hacker finds his name hidden in an ancient manuscript. But he’s not the only one who’s noticed it — Maddy recognizes it as the same message she’s been sent. Maddy’s sure the message is from other time travelers and sends Liam and two support units back to the time of the Crusades.
It turns out Robin Hood isn’t a mythical legend and neither is the Holy Grail — though they both turn out to be much different than originally thought. The TimeRiders know they need to remain anonymous or they could pollute the timeline. But as King Richard wages war against his brother, John, Liam accidentally takes on the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham.
“The Doomsday Code” is an exciting look at England in one of its most formative eras. It’s a fast-paced read that quickly draws you in and should appeal to fans of history, legends and adventure. It’s particularly nice to find a series that doesn’t cater to a specific gender. Boys and girls will equally enjoy this book, and most likely the whole series. I can’t wait to go back and start from the beginning.
