THE ACADEMY OF PLANETARY EVOLUTION

Three exceptionally bright children find themselves at an exclusive time-traveling academy—and on the run from some fellow time travelers seeking them and their magical map.

Jenna, Ari and Caleb have been selected to study at the Academy of Planetary Evolution, a small, erudite institution that holds its classes at notable American museums and has famous (albeit deceased) lecturers, such as Andrew Carnegie and Herman Melville. The kids learn about the evolution of the Earth by traveling through time with the assistance of TOGGLERs, hand-held devices that blast them into the past. In addition to attending to their studies, the trio must avoid the Treasure Hunters, an avaricious assemblage seeking the kids' enchanted map, which is able to transport its keeper into ancient eras. Though a time-travel story at heart, this third volume in the series is densely laden with facts about Earth’s history and mammalian evolution; at times, the facts outweigh the fiction. That being said, anyone who reads this is sure to pick up a tidbit or two, and many of Herndon and Melville’s accompanying graphics are positively thrilling. Be sure to pair this with Jim Ottaviani's excellent graphic novel Bone Sharps, Cowboys and Thunder Lizards (2005), which further expounds upon some of the characters Jenna, Ari and Caleb encounter.

Edifying and entertaining; recommended for serious dinosaur aficionados looking for scholarly,
in-depth information.