From the author of The Quest to Unite Us: A modern American teen is hurled back in time to aid Benjamin Franklin and the Founding Fathers in their quest to create a new Constitution to unite the country. Falling head over heels for beautiful Elise, Franklin’s cook and an escaped slave from Haiti, Marcus battles the evils of slavery, both inside Independence Hall and on the streets and waterways of 18th Century Philadelphia.

First Impressions: I was excited to read this book! The time travel element was intriguing, but the story also included real information about the Constitutional Convention and the challenges faced by the Founding Fathers during the creation of the United States government. I think The Quest to Unite Us will succeed in making history interesting for readers who might not otherwise pay much attention to it! I especially enjoyed seeing how Marcus adapted to finding himself in an unfamiliar world, and it was sobering to realize how different the prevailing attitudes were during that time, especially toward slavery.

Cover and Setting: I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to pick up this book when they see the cover! The design is eye-catching: humorous and interesting at the same time. Although the story begins in modern Philadelphia, it quickly shifts back in time to a different era. The setting was described beautifully! I liked the little details about the sights, sounds, and smells that made the location feel alive and bustling with activity.

Plot: The plot was clever, combining an adventure story and a historical account in such a way that neither overshadowed the other. Much of the book is purely entertaining, but real issues are explored, too, specifically the issue of slavery. It is interesting to speculate about why the Founding Fathers allowed slavery to continue while espousing sentiments of justice and equality. Like Marcus, I found myself infuriated by the argument that unity should be prioritized above all else. The Quest to Unite Us does an outstanding job showing the ugliness of slavery and the conflicting viewpoints about it.

Characters: The main character Marcus went through an interesting transformation during the story. I enjoyed reading about how he coped with the challenges of finding himself in a completely unfamiliar situation. At times, he seemed younger than his seventeen years, both in his attitudes and actions. However, I liked his courage and his ability to adapt. Benjamin Franklin is portrayed as a clever inventor who is considered a good man—but his attitude toward slavery is repulsive by modern standards. I think Elise was the most interesting character of all. Her background was especially fascinating, and her determination to survive was admirable.

Final Thoughts: The Quest to Unite Us will make you think! It is both educational and fanciful, full of interesting ideas. I appreciated how the author included a section at the end of the story describing which events in the book are real and which are not. Although some aspects of the story were fun, others were more serious, which helped me care about what was going to happen to the characters. I’m glad a sequel is on its way. It will be interesting to see what situation Marcus finds himself in next!

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.

Born in New York City, William de Rham is a graduate of Georgetown University and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He once practiced law in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic district, right across the street from Independence Hall, which is where the idea for Marcus Santana and his travels through time first occurred. He lives in Maine with his wife Eugenie and their Labrador Retriever, Toby, and is currently at work on Book II of The Marcus Santana Time Travel Chronicles.

You can purchase a copy of The Quest to Unite Us from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, or Apple Books.

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