Trapped in 1867

By Christopher Francis

Who would have thought stealing a Time Machine could go so wrong?

 

Desperate to get a great mark on her 150-year anniversary presentation of Ottawa, Gauri sneaks into her dad's time machine with a boy from her class and travels back to 1867. Problems quickly unfold, leaving the two fifth-graders trapped in the unforgiving elements of winter, struggling to stay alive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christopher Francis
• Release date: Jul 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201316068

Christopher Francis

Christopher Francis was born in Brisbane, Australia, on June 21, 1974. At 19, he was accepted into the Animation program at Sheridan College, and then graduated with a degree in Sociology from McMaster University. Following a two year adventure overseas working with children, Christopher completed a Bachelor of Education at York University. He is now teaching junior level students in Burlington, Ontario. Through Christopher’s experience working with children, he found writing and illustrating to be one of his passions. Currently working on a middle-grade series, Christopher has recently completed the first four books entitled: Solving Damian Dermite, Respecting Mr. Ravi , Remembering Kaylee Cooper and Alex was Here. Recently, Remembering Kaylee Cooper, has been published by Curiosity Quills Press Publishing House. In addition, Christopher has completed a Paranormal Teen Fiction novel, titled, Stoneway, and recently finished the Teen Fiction Sci-Fi, titled, They Came from the Trees, based on a short story called, That Thing in the Sky. He has also created eight primary leveled books called How to sneak your Monster into School, Mr. Pancake Turkey, I Don’t Want to go to Sleep! It’s Up to You, How Mr. Monster Biggens Changed My Life, There's and Ogre-Beast in the Playground, Bigger than Alexander and The Whispering Tree. Additionally, Christopher has illustrated children’s novels for several independent authors and publishing companies including Kids4kids.com, The Hamilton Spectator, BrendanKelly Publishing, Highview Press.com and Trimatrix. Most recently, They all can be viewed on francisart.com.

Book preview

Chapter One: The Project

Group

JANUARY 16TH, 2017

To do list:

Charge battery on Time Machine

Update Application from mobile to input discharge

Check freon levels

Pop zit on chin

7:45 AM

Not looking forward to today. I'm working with Ben Wiseman doing a project on the 150 year anniversary of Canada. Can you believe it? My most favourite topic in the whole wide world and I get stuck with the fifth-grade ‘Bully-Boy’. I know, that’s not the most original name to call him, but he’s horribly mean. Just last week he threw sand in my face and accused me of ruining his life. It wasn't my choice to be his social studies partner.

9:12 AM

I go to a dinky school in Burlington, Ontario called, Kilbride P.S. It's old and smells like warm milk.

Shelby Reynolds is in my class. You might have heard of her. She’s the smartest girl in the world, (at least she claims to be.) For the first time ever, I am going to get a higher mark than her on an assignment.

I hope.

Mrs. Dudley stands at the front of the class with her thick hot-pink glasses and organizes us all into our groups for the period.

Alright boys and girls, please get into your teams, we only have one more period to work on this project, she says with her squeaky mini-mouse vocal-chords. Remember, the presentations start tomorrow. You’ll need to be able to compare what Ottawa was like 150 years ago, to today.

Easy-peasey.

The freon levels were fine this morning. Batteries are charged.

Good to go.

I am finally going to beat Shelby.

Are we actually going to do any work on this dumb assignment? Ben pulls the lid off one my sharpie colour-burst permanent fine-point markers and strikes my arm.

What a doe-doe!

He never listens.

I told you, I begin, we will have all the minutes, hours, and days in the world once the Time Machine is ready. We’ll get to know the people who lived in Ottawa back then and be able to stand in front of the parliament buildings on the first day of confederation.

You're insane, you know that? You're ten years-old—nobody, let alone a little dorky kid like you can actually build a machine that can travel through time. Ben slashes at my arm again with another marker.

Well, when you come over tonight, you'll just have to see for yourself. I lick my finger and rub at the random red and green lines on my skin.

You actually expect me to come over? Ben looks at me and frowns. His jet-black hair is gelled back in straight lines, except a perfectly calculated strand that falls just over his forehead. My mom is gonna call the school and complain about you. She says you are himpering my chances at getting a good grade on this project.

Himpering? I ask.

Yes.

Don’t you mean, ‘hindering’?

Yes, that's what I said. Ben sticks out his tongue at me and then raises his hand.

I swear he hates me more than I hate him. He's