Ben Franklin and the Chamber of Time By Chris Heimerdinger Shadow Mountain. ISBN: 1-57345-050-2 Suggested retail price: $11.95 13.95 (US)
Reviewed by: Linda L. Blades

Plot Summary

Ben Franklin, recognizing that his death is imminent, asks his grandson to help him to his study to sleep in his "rejuvenation chamber". Lightning hits, and Ben Franklin begins his journey through time. After a series of "visions" he discovers himself, young again, but in 1993 Illinois. He is taken in by a family, and thus begins his adventure, introducing himself as Frank Benjamin. They assume him to be a street person, and give him a little help and a place to stay temporarily, although the father suspects him of being a freeloader. As he learns about 20th century American life, he becomes involved with the two young people in the family, with his concern about an impending tragic event he has seen in one of the visions overshadowing his recognition that his body is rapidly aging. The young boy in the family is hiding a terrible secret, and has gotten involved with the "wrong kind" of friends. The girl struggles with self-acceptance. The parents are considering a separation. And none of them can decide what to do about their peculiar visitor. All's well that ends well, and this book is no exception! A good read for any age!

Reviewer Comments

My son loves all of Heimerdinger's books, and this was no exception. It has all kinds of redeeming qualities -- a fun plot, a lot of information about a fascinating historical figure, and characters with problems youth can relate to (peer pressure, desire for acceptance, family problems). Unlike his other books, Ben doesn't have any apparent Mormon connection, although there are family and relationship issues where the resolution reflects traditional Mormon family values. Time travel themes always seem to make for good plots, and this one is no exception. Franklin's reactions to modern day life are nicely (if sort of predictably) done, but my favorite part might have been when he attends an American history class, and hears a very different portrayal of the events he lived through! Or maybe his anonymous letter to the editor of the local newspaper.

Interesting Quotation

He had accepted the idea that something was wrong with Frank, but he wasn't quite ready to call it insanity. Tory felt certain that Frank was perfectly aware of how to ride a bike. Surely he knew about ALL of this stuff, but something must have caused him to forget. What if the last thing he saw before blacking out was an image of Benjamin Franklin? Tory rather enjoyed pretending Frank was from another century. It was good training in case Klingons ever landed in Illinois with a desire to learn about life on planet Earth.

As Michalene watched Mr. Benjamin take his first spill in the driveway, she decided to let her imagination run wild. What if this really WAS Benjamin Franklin? There was no harm in entertaining such a notion for a few moments. People had told Michalene so often that she was fat, nerdish, ugly, and unimportant, she had begun to believe it. Her only defense had been to prove that she was SMARTER than everyone else. Now that she was old enough to notice how boys looked at other girls and not at her, she was beginning to seriously question the value of her own intelligence. If some twise of fate could bring Benjamin Franklin -- THE Benjamin Franklin -- to her home, it would prove that all those cruel, selfish, short-sighted people were wrong. You didn't think I was important, eh? Well, how would you like to meet Mr. Benjamin Franklin?

"Frank's second spill, this time into the hedges, awakened Michalene from her fantasy. Mr. Benjamin was nothing more than a man with a serious mental illness. So serious that she wondered if she shouldn't just call the hospital and have someone take him away. It might be the most humane thing she could do.