The Lens and the Looker

Dec 14, 2011 Anne Toronto1 rated it 3 of 5 stars

"The Lens and the Looker" (History Camp 1) by Lory Kaufman could be x-rated for chopped-off finger and sword-slain soldiers. I like the premise, rebellious adolescents find out how good present lives are compared to a dirty smelly dangerous past. But they never learn self-reliance, how to reason and decide individually, discover and act on strengths, find and bolster friend's frailties in teamwork, expose and exploit enemy weakness. They always follow rules and their AI tutor. Research details a...more "The Lens and the Looker" (History Camp 1) by Lory Kaufman could be x-rated for chopped-off finger and sword-slain soldiers. I like the premise, rebellious adolescents find out how good present lives are compared to a dirty smelly dangerous past. But they never learn self-reliance, how to reason and decide individually, discover and act on strengths, find and bolster friend's frailties in teamwork, expose and exploit enemy weakness. They always follow rules and their AI tutor. Research details and awkward translations are mostly parroted from AI, better when incorporated seamlessly.
Excerpts from #2 are highlights, more intriguing than straight first chapter, but personally I almost identify more with the confused yearning ugly Ugi. I know their future is safe. Where's their badness? Perhaps if backstory shows that characteristics scamps may get in trouble for, say taking apart machinery, overhearing and copying secrets, or interpreting adult double-talk, lead to current triumphs?
(Rowling and Tolkein make me laugh and, too much, cry. Our fave heroes - Alice, Dorothy, Scheherezade, Gulliver, Sinbad, Odysseus - fall to the depths of Hell in danger of death, before rising, not to Heaven beyond our reach, just beside us, to Earth.)
Teen trio in 2437 are sentenced to reform at hard-time History camp as 1347 Verona orphan apprentices to a refugee lensmaker and family, but sneak in Pan, a genii, hologram AI created by hackers with propensity to provoke trouble, their deus ex machina. Hansum 17 exchanges long kisses with the daughter of the house and talks up technical plans drawn by portrait sketcher Shamira 15 who cooks and cleans superbly, while Lincoln 14 cleans and organizes the workroom, says more "zippy" than "Jesus/God", after clouts from their new Master. Their first stunt, laxative dose the noble, is not funny, if you've been around or performed stinky air cleanup from explosive bouts of the real thing: body, clothes, floor, walls, crevices, furniture. Their next feat risks their own existence and the fate of the world, inventing the telescope and weapons ahead of time. After initial mouthiness, they show no evidence of criminality, follow directions fully from their new AI and comply all-round. They are sappy naive from the start, on their own no match for opposing nasty murdering prince and conniving nobles. Chase and combat are lively, but feel more prerequisite than spontaneous.

(Spoiler:
When they are sure rescuers will not save them, from changing time, they continue inventing. Illogical.)

Trivia:
Regarding the 1347 Verona telescope (looker) cardboard parts - corrugated paper was invented in 1800s England, cardstock heavyweight paper I couldn't find an origin, and parchment in Italy was probably costly goatskin.
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Apr 04, 2011 Ashleigh rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA, adventure fans

Recommended to Ashleigh by: goodreads :)

I thought this book was good.

I read reviews saying that there was almost no time spent in the 24th century and that that was an issue for them, but the book isn't about that time period- it's about the 1300's (which is why the focus of the book takes place in the 1300's). I admit, I was really hoping for more of a picture of the future too, I love that kind of stuff- I'm totally a victim of it. But I also understand that the series isn't over, the focus isn't meant to be on that (at least at thi...more I thought this book was good.

I read reviews saying that there was almost no time spent in the 24th century and that that was an issue for them, but the book isn't about that time period- it's about the 1300's (which is why the focus of the book takes place in the 1300's). I admit, I was really hoping for more of a picture of the future too, I love that kind of stuff- I'm totally a victim of it. But I also understand that the series isn't over, the focus isn't meant to be on that (at least at this point), and even if it's never explored more the idea you take away from it is still pretty cool. There was another review saying it's stupid that such little things formed the "issues" that sent these kids to the history camp. I think people need to understand that's the point. These kids aren't murderers and rapists- the picture of the future here is shown in their "crimes" and the punishment because although we (in this day) think nothing of those things- they do. The future is a serious thing in this book- and I honestly have to say that I really think people would be better for it if society more followed those values today- but I digress. There was also a gripe about the way that the kids were able to understand the language of that time. I don't know any teenagers that are fluent in Italian, let alone Italian from the 1300's (English from that period is tricky enough). So I can't think of another way the teenagers would be able to speak the language, and I have no issue there.

In my first draft of this review I described the book (characters, premise, etc) but am taking that out. The synopsis is available here at goodreads of course, and I don't really enjoy reviews where people just go over the plot, so I am going through mine to make them better. I like the author's style, and I most of all liked that this book really gives you a picture of a difficult period in time that we're now past, and probably never consider or appreciate. I never think how great it is to smell clean air, or turn on the air conditioner, or open a refrigerator- but that's really the point of the history camps (to teach kids, and the reader it seems, to appreciate how easy it is now- and it's truly done in a way that implants the idea in your head without preaching- bravo there.)

Overall I liked the book, but it's not quite as dark, violent, political, or depth-y as I thought it would be. That's really because I was expecting this to be an adult book (which is my fault bc I neglected to read that this is YA). Between winning the First Reads entry for this and receiving it I read more about it- and the reviews mentioned above- and discovered it was YA. So my misunderstanding of what I was expecting effected my first read through, and probably my first review. However, now that I have made peace with it being YA- and good YA at that- I definitely liked it. (less)

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Feb 18, 2011 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a great modern book, I was lucky enough to get an early copy from a friend of mine and fell into the story after the first page. I recommend it to all readers, young or old, Sci-Fi, romance or just escapist. This is definatly (along with 1st Hungar Games book) my favorite book in the last 5 years. Now to tell the truth, I don't tend to like modern books (past the 90's) because of their lack of drive, I mostly read the classics and old Sci-Fi. But this book has drive and is diffinatly the...more

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Mar 12, 2013 Michele rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I never thought I would be intrigued enough by a YA novel to quickly grab up the 2nd in the History Camp series. AND I have already started the 3rd and final in this series. Lory S. Kaufman has written such a series!! I will be reviewing each of them separately—this is my review of #1, The Lens and the Looker and I promise you the ending will leave you running to get the next one!! And I can safely recommend this for not only YA’s but Adults as well!!

This is the story about 3 teenagers who are—w...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Diana (Offbeat Vagabond) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, dystopian, ya, time-travel, science-fiction, romance, fantasy

Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/02/indie-book-review-lens-and-looker.html

The Lens and the Looker takes place in the 24th century. We start things off with a guy named Hansum. He likes to start trouble and give his professors a run for their money. His professors think he needs to learn a lesson. The kids of this generation have it way too easy. No real responsibilities and no real work. So they send him to History Camp. History Camp is where they send kids to learn...more Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/02/indie-book-review-lens-and-looker.html

The Lens and the Looker takes place in the 24th century. We start things off with a guy named Hansum. He likes to start trouble and give his professors a run for their money. His professors think he needs to learn a lesson. The kids of this generation have it way too easy. No real responsibilities and no real work. So they send him to History Camp. History Camp is where they send kids to learn how things were back in the past. While at the camp Hansum, he meets two other kids named Lincoln and Shamira. The camp is just full of actors who want to teach the kids something. But the kids have a few things up their sleeve so they could be sent home early. Hansum's mom works for the History Camp, so he knows how to play the game. They sneak in technology into the camp (which isn't allowed) and trick the actors. So while the actors are trying to figure out what to do with the troublesome kids, they meet someone that wants to take them on a real adventure. They may have been sent into the past for real and they have to figure out how they will cope while waiting to be sent back to the future.

This book really took me by surprise. The concept was great. I love the mixture of dystopian meets history. It was brilliant. Hansum and his new found friends are all given jobs in the history camp. Hansum and Lincoln are being taught how to make glasses or “discs for the eyes”. But after their prank, they are taken back into 14th century Italy. They notice things will not be as easy as they thought. I love all things they had to face while stuck in the past. There skills with creating lens makes a huge impact in the past. While there, Pan (the technology genie) tells them to create the telescope. The telescope isn't to be created until hundreds of years from now. So this would force the History Camp makers to bring them back to the 24th century. It is quite a mystery wondering if the History Camp makers will show up or whether they will stop them. Their inventions could change the fabric of history completely.

We also have the story of the kids and the family they are living with. They are brought in as orphans to serve a family that is a bit down on their luck. All three of the kids have their own special talents. Their talents earn them much love amongst the family, but jealousy and greed amongst others. The kids have to team together to not only save the family, but each other.

I had a lot of fun with these characters. Hansum, Lincoln, and Shamira were a blast together. I liked them more and more as the book went on. Hansum was suppose to be the rebellious teenager. I wasn't 100% on board with that. I just didn't get why he was that way. It is never really explained. Same thing goes for the other kids. But I love how close they became. We also have Ugilino, he is in love with the Master's daughter, Guilietta, and he hates that she has taken notice of Hansum and not him. I felt really sorry for him in this book. He was treated so badly because of his looks and I think that is why he acted the way he acted. I hope to see more of him in the other books and that he can be redeemed. I wish I can tell you guys the whole story, but this is a book that can be easily spoiled.

Overall, I say check this book out. It does start off quite slow and it can be a bit verbose in parts. But it really picks up by Book 3 (the book is split up into books or sections). Section 3 is definitely the best part. This book is full of mischief, laughs, and adventure. It also has its fair share of gross out moments which were sometimes quite funny. I love this idea of mixing science fiction and history. I know sometimes time travel reads can get a little crazy and confusing, but this did a good job. Kaufman has a great writing style and I am looking forward to reading his other works. This book is imaginative and fun. Definitely worth reading.(less)

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Oct 16, 2012 Ellie rated it 1 of 5 stars

Unfortunately, I couldn't finish this book. The concept sounded fantastic! But it really couldn't keep me engaged.

Right from the beginning, you're supposed to believe that the main character is a clever, mischievous young man--intelligent, smarmy, attractive, and manipulative. I didn't see that. A little bit more of "show, don't tell" would have been good, since I came away feeling that I was being told what to feel about the main character.

But then there was that description of the lathe. The s...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-fiction, christian-teen-fiction, young-adult-fiction

I absolutely loved the concept of this novel for young adults, and being a huge fan of history, Mr. Kaufman does a fine job at keeping the reader as immersed in the time period as possible. What starts off as punishment for those three young teens for being a little too rowdy and cocky in their own classrooms as know-it-alls and practical jokes. Knowing that their A.I.'s can't physically harm them when they act up in class, they are sentenced to hard time in History Camp. Hansum knows the ins an...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Holly rated it 3 of 5 stars

What immediately struck me about the book was a concept like nothing I've heard of before. Originality can be quite difficult to come by nowadays and I'm seriously fed up with the Hunger Games and the Twilights of YA - the book is completely different. One thing that wasn't really made obvious was the time period in which the book is predominantly set in; my original thought was that the book will focus on the 24th century which really caught my attention. On further reading, I found that the bo...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Cheryl C. rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a book that really touches me. I love historical fiction and futuristic stories. This book is the best combination of both. What are historical re-creations but a way to understand things about the past that are not a part of our everyday lives? It is a great way to learn, especially for our youth. There are many state and national park sites across the land that do just that.

We have many youth programs designed to help those who strain against the institutions of our day, who refuse to...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who likes time travel

Recommended to Donna by: Goodreads

Do you like books about the past? Books about time travel? You should love this book.

A brief overview:
Hansum, Lincoln, and Shamira are three kids from the 24th century who are what we would call 'problem children'. They don't pay attention in school and cause problems wherever and whenever they can. They are juvenile delinquents in the making. As a punishment, they must "do time" in a history camp. A
re-enactment of a time when life wasn't so easy. The kids are sent to a camp representing Veron...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Patty rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I generally don't find myself leaning towards this type of book but the tie-in to medieval Italy had me intrigued. The three protagonists are reckless youths living in a post apocalyptic future where the population is significantly reduced and all humans have an AI (artificial intelligence) babysitter. They don't conform to the systems in place so they need to go to a History Camp (ca. Verona, Italy 1347) to learn the lessons of the past so that they don't repeat the mistakes that brought about...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Jules rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, reviewed, sent-4-review

My full review is available on my blog: http://onebookshy.blogspot.com

This is an exciting new series in the YA genre that will appeal to readers of various ages. I think it's another one of those stories that shouldn't be "pigeon-holed" into just one genre or classification. While it's being marketed towards YA readers, I think dystopian, historical fiction, time travel, romance, adventure and science fiction aspects are also well represented in this work by Lory S. Kaufman. As an adult who enjo...more My full review is available on my blog: http://onebookshy.blogspot.com

This is an exciting new series in the YA genre that will appeal to readers of various ages. I think it's another one of those stories that shouldn't be "pigeon-holed" into just one genre or classification. While it's being marketed towards YA readers, I think dystopian, historical fiction, time travel, romance, adventure and science fiction aspects are also well represented in this work by Lory S. Kaufman. As an adult who enjoys all of these genres, including YA; I found this to be a great read.

I'm an avid reader of historical fiction. When I saw the description of this story, I jumped at the chance to be part of the blog tour. One of my favorite books/movies is Timeline by Michael Crichton. It involves a group of archaeologists who are thrown back into medieval France and must learn to survive without their modern amenities. This story reminded me of that in a vague way and I am happy to say I'm not disappointed. It's a fresh take on the "fish out of water" syndrome.

A History Camp where youngsters are taught to learn from the mistakes of the past is a fantastic idea. I love that our three main characters are pretty much hard-ass delinquents who are spoiled and quite jaded. They do their best to get in their own way and cause even more problems for themselves and the adults who are trying to help them. It was fun watching the three of them grow and change their perceptions of themselves and the privileged life they came from. None of them were especially likable at the start. I found myself caring what happened to them quickly as the story progressed and their hardships began piling up on them.

The extensive research done by Mr. Kaufman is very apparent from the beginning. He mixes historical facts in with the fictional tale seamlessly. I learned a lot about Verona and much of medieval life without feeling like I was being "taught". The story was enjoyable and educational and I became attached to many of the people who made the tale come alive for me. While Hansum is the one we spent the most time with in the story, I am hoping to hear more from Shamira and Lincoln in the upcoming books.

I highly recommend this story and the entire series.
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Jun 04, 2011 M.L. John rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Lens and the Looker, a book by Lory Kaufman, is about three teens from the 24th century. In the year 2347, humans have finally managed to create a utopian society-but they did it in the wake of some massive disaster that nearly destroyed humanity and the entire world. Enter Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln: three privileged kids who have never known anything but this perfect society. They are from a world where they are coddled by artificial intelligences that have been created with the singular...more The Lens and the Looker, a book by Lory Kaufman, is about three teens from the 24th century. In the year 2347, humans have finally managed to create a utopian society-but they did it in the wake of some massive disaster that nearly destroyed humanity and the entire world. Enter Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln: three privileged kids who have never known anything but this perfect society. They are from a world where they are coddled by artificial intelligences that have been created with the singular directive to keep the kids safe and happy. These three kids have been spoiled to the point of downright brattiness. So to solve the problem of their unpleasant attitudes, their parents and schools decide to send them to a History Camp, which is a place where “hard cases” like them can go to learn to appreciate all they have by being immersed in the culture of a much earlier time. They’re supposed to learn how people lived in the past so they don’t recreate the mistakes of their forebears. But History Camp has never met these three. They’re not that easy to scare.

That is, until they’re kidnapped by a rogue time traveler and dropped into real medieval Italy…

If you’re thinking that this book sounds like a wild mix of science fiction genres, you would be right. Mr. Kaufman has created a genuinely original world and peopled it with realistic characters. I was fascinated by the A.Is. They were so alive that even though they looked like, oh, a balloon with a crayon face or a long-tailed satyr, they still managed to be round and believable. His description of 12th century Italy was amazing as well, so clear that it felt real. Conversely, I thought the 24th century was pretty sparsely built, but I can see why he did it that way. The kids didn’t really learn how to become alive until they were immersed in the grittiness of history.

The way Mr. Kaufman integrated the children into their Italian family was masterfully done as well. There wasn’t a lot of action in the second part of the book, but it drew me in with the layered interpersonal relationships. That being said, The Lens and the Looker took a while to get around to it (it being drawing me in.) In my opinion the book started a little slowly. About thirty pages were spent teaching the boys exactly how people made eyeglasses in ancient Italy. If you ever wondered how this feat was performed, this is the book for you. I will say the book was educational, which in my opinion is always a plus for YA reads. I recommend this book to people that are interested in history and are okay with reading a few chapters of exposition. Also, this was a super clean book. This is a safe read even for younger teens.

If you are interested in this book, Mr. Kaufman’s website is here: http://www.history-camp.com/.

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Jun 02, 2011 William Bentrim rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman

A trio of pending juvenile delinquents is posted to a alternative school. This takes place in the not too distant future where the alternative school is a representation of a past history. It is designed to show difficult students how good current life is compared to what the world suffered in previous generations. A reasonable premise that is disrupted by a time traveling history buff from the future results in the trio taking an unwanted trip to the re...more

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May 25, 2011 CorLostForWords rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tour, for-review

I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln are three trouble-making, and spoiled teens from the year 2347. They couldn't be bothered to learn about history, and have all been relegated to spend time in "History Camps" to get a hands-on learning experience. What they don't expect, is to actually be sent back in time to the actual Verona, Italy. There are no actors here, and the three teens will have to learn to adapt to their new reality, or...more

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Apr 07, 2011 Sherri rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book, and am anxiously awaiting the next in the series. I have seen the comments others have made about not spending enough time in the characters real world, but I totally disagree. As the book progresses you learn a lot about the 3 main characters and the way they evolve and step up to the situations they find themselves in. They learn to trust each other and work together to survive in the true 13th century, and deal with all the things that happen to them, of which there...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Randy Bartley rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was a little outside my normal library but my son recommended it to me, which was quite rewarding insofar as I normally am doing the recommendations.

What i particularly enjoyed about the book was that the characters were down to earth; there were no real villains or angels, just people in a situation in which they had to find a way to initially survive and then prosper, using their innate intelligence, obviously their advanced knowledge, and yes, some magic, to posively affect their r...more

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May 23, 2011 P.E. at Tantalizing Illusions rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

I don't believe I've ever read a novel like The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman. It was so unique- a blend of very old history and a very modern future in a story that actually made sense.

The world of this story is the coolest thing. There are about 300 million people alive only, it's the 24th century and to stop future generations from making mistakes, there are sites called History Camps which are cities in ancient times re-enacted. Kind of like a huge role play game. There is also som...more I don't believe I've ever read a novel like The Lens and the Looker by Lory S. Kaufman. It was so unique- a blend of very old history and a very modern future in a story that actually made sense.

The world of this story is the coolest thing. There are about 300 million people alive only, it's the 24th century and to stop future generations from making mistakes, there are sites called History Camps which are cities in ancient times re-enacted. Kind of like a huge role play game. There is also some time travel and I thought that part was also very cool. Basically, a new memorable world that I love to read about.

The characters didn't stand out too much for me. I didn't feel like I knew them very well. I knew one stressed out fact about each- Hamsum was clever, Shamira was artistic, Lincoln had a bad temper- but besides that I didn't understand much about them. The best character I think was the Master. He was a character that did many things considered morally wrong in today's society- drinking, beating, but you can't help but still root for him. He turned out to be a very complex character and I loved seeing him transform. He's truly a character that I want to see succeed. The villain is a character that I'd enjoy seeing die a gruesome death. I love to feel that way about characters. Lory S. Kaufman created a wide range of characters that were all different.

Most stories I read are character driven, but The Lens and the Looker is very much a plot driven story. There are tons of events or little scenes that drive the story. You never have the characters doing nothing and whining about their dilemma. There's always something that happens and the characters need to adjust to that something. The book is divided into 3 parts and I think it was done well that way. The problem of the story was basically everything I expected but there were many twists. Near the ending of the story, I was literally hooked. That's why I'm writing this review at midnight. At some point the story hit it off with an interesting climax, and the end definitely leaves room for more while being satisfying.

While reading the story, I noticed many similarities to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and there were many allusions to it. This was obviously purposeful and made the romance- yes, there was romance- more interesting. It wasn't too heavy nor a major focus, it was just something naturally happening while the plot was going on.

Overall, a good, imaginative read with time travel, romance, and danger. The Lens and the Looker has something for everyone! 4 stars,

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Mar 03, 2013 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lory S. Kaufman in his new book, “The Lens and the Looker” Book One in The Verona Trilogy series published by The Fiction Studio takes us into the lives of Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln.

From the back cover: There’s hope for the future, but what about the past?

It’s the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s), have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized r...more Lory S. Kaufman in his new book, “The Lens and the Looker” Book One in The Verona Trilogy series published by The Fiction Studio takes us into the lives of Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln.

From the back cover: There’s hope for the future, but what about the past?

It’s the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s), have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized recreations of cities from Earth’s distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiencing the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan.

In this first of a trilogy, we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don’t have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities.

These three “hard cases” refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It’s hardly the ideal environment to fall in love – but that’s exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them – or it could change history.

There is a little bit of the theme of Pinocchio in “The Lens and the Looker” only, this time there are three rebellious teens, instead of the one rebellious youth. In each story they are lured away and brought to a place that they, probably, will never return from and there they learn their lessons. Then there is the science fiction element. I just enjoy so much a good time travel adventure and I have to say that “”The Lens and the Looker”" is one of the best. Whisked back in time from the 24th Century to 14th Century Verona, Italy and really apprenticed to an eye glass maker these teens are seriously out of their comfort zone. Now they have to make their new lives work for them. Wow, is this an exciting adventure! ”The Lens and the Looker” is a lot of fun. I am glad I found this talented author and am already looking forward to the next book in this series.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Pump Up Your Book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Jan 24, 2013 Paula Mitchell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013

When you are a misbehaving teen in the 24th century your punishment is History Camp. There kids live out a period in time with no A. I there to guide them. Three teens Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln end up in Verona Italy, which teachers who enact scenes for them to learn. These three need to learn how to behave but when these three strike out against the program they are kidnapped and sent to the real Verona Italy in 1347 where they either adapt to where they are or they will die.

This book was in...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Anagha rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Nobody!

Shelves: posted, dnf

The Lens and the Looker is original, no doubt, but it's way too detailed. When the boys are taken in to be apprenticed by the lens maker, you have to read all about the process of the making an eyepiece. You have to read all this unnecessary details about Shamira's first experience in a market. And when the guy from the future shows up to take the kids back to 13th century Verona, he talks in rhyme. Now if there's one thing I will never read by choice, it's poetry. Whether it be rhymed, unrhymed...more

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Aug 02, 2012 A. R. rated it 2 of 5 stars

First off let me say, I was caught in the first three pages of this book. I loved the premise of teenagers being sent back in time to learn to appreciate what they have. I liked the promise of a star-crossed love and that they would be separated by time. I was so excited when I started the book that I was anticipating writing this review, passing the book around to my daughters and all their friends and having great discussions about it.

Needless to say, from my 2 star rating - the book didn't de...more

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May 16, 2011 Alanna (The Flashlight Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-requests

Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln are all “hard cases” from the 24th century. They are spoiled, lazy, and resilient to the lessons that the elders of their society try to teach. In a desperate measure to get the teens to learn from their mistakes, they are whisked away to History Camp—a reenactment of some of the hardest times from history. History Camps are designed to teach even the hardest 24th century kids a lesson about the past. Unfortunately, Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln are too smart for thei...more Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln are all “hard cases” from the 24th century. They are spoiled, lazy, and resilient to the lessons that the elders of their society try to teach. In a desperate measure to get the teens to learn from their mistakes, they are whisked away to History Camp—a reenactment of some of the hardest times from history. History Camps are designed to teach even the hardest 24th century kids a lesson about the past. Unfortunately, Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln are too smart for their own good; they manage to disrupt the “lesson.” Thinking that they have successfully interrupted the History Camp Elder’s plans, the three teens are surprised to find themselves being approached by a time-traveling man. This man—Artemis—transports (i.e. kidnaps) the teens to the real 14th century Verona, Italy.

Suddenly the teens aren’t as interested in causing mischief as they are in their own survival. Life in Verona during 1347 is much different from anything they have ever experienced! Luckily, they have the help of Pan and knowledge of future technologies to make their new lives easier. However, they learn that all knowledge comes with a price—an extremely high price. When things go terribly wrong, and they find themselves permanently trapped in 1347, the three teens are forced to find a way to survive, even if it means disrupting the course of history.

The premise of this story was fascinating. It reminded me of H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine. In Lory Kaufman’s book, The Lens and the Looker, three incredibly spoiled teens find themselves reaching “the last straw” with the adults in their 24th century society. Being the arrogant teenagers they are they go off to History Camp with the sole purpose to torment the adults, instead of learning any valuable life lessons. There wasn’t a lot of attention given to the future world since the majority of the story takes place in the past. I was very impressed with the amount of detail that went in to creating 1347 Verona, Italy. The descriptions of the characters were fantastic—even when the descriptions were revolting! This story was a post-dystopian sci-fi read with a hint of historical fiction thrown in. A very interesting combination!

If you’re wondering about the pacing, it was quick and steady. The first few chapters were interesting, but they were slow in comparison to the remainder of the story. I would have liked to have had some resolution with the character Ugilino at the end of the book. Having him scurry off to the medicine woman and then not being mentioned again was a little disappointing. Since this is the first book in a series, I’m sure he will resurface in the next book. I also liked that the characters did learn lessons throughout the story, and they didn’t all learn them at the same time. Each character had a different challenge to work out and come to terms with. Watching them struggle throughout the story made them very believable. On a side note, the Italian used in the book was impressive. I’m glad Pan was there to translate for me, or else I would have been very confused!

Overall, this was a well-written, fast paced science fiction read. I’m not typically a fan of science fiction, but I enjoyed reading this book. I learned a lot about 14th century Verona and lens making (who knew books could teach you things!). I liked how the book didn’t feel like science fiction; it was more historical fiction with a few “out there” twists thrown in. This gets a solid 4 from me. The second book is already finished (I couldn’t help but read the snippets at the end), and it looks even better!
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Jan 02, 2012 Shannon rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was a very very slow read for me. I could not quite figure out the direction the plot was heading and so that also made it a little harder for me to read as well. The author also put a lot of descriptions in the book. Most of them were unnecessary; I could skim two to three paragraphs and still be able to follow the storyline just fine. I also found the sudden setting switch from 2347 to the History Camp to 1347 Verona, quite jarring and abrupt.

The characters were not easy to connect w...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Halli Lilburn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hansum is a young adult facing his first “history camp”, a place where history is recreated so the new generations can appreciate mankind’s past. Hansum is not interested in playing by the rules and finds every opportunity to wreak havoc. His plans backfire when he is sent back in time to experience history for real.
This is a great premise, but I found the characters inconsistent. The futuristic world we start out in is too brief to get a sense of Hansum‘s world before he’s plunged into unfamili...more

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Mar 04, 2011 T. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: z2011-reads, won-goodreads-firstreads, genre-ya, author-lory-s-kaufman

Copy obtained through the GoodReads First Reads program. Disclaimer: I'm an adult who still enjoys reading YA, so I know I'm not the target audience.

I think the intended age range would likely enjoy the book. The three main characters (Hansum, Shamira, and Lincoln) have enough of an edge that they're interesting, but they aren't "bad influences". The idea of the History Camp is a good one, and the lessons the kids learn are gradual, realistic ones. As an introduction to sci-fi, it's like easing...more

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May 27, 2011 Amber (The Musings of ALMYBNENR) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 100-reading-challenge-2011, review-copies, 2011-historical-fiction-reading-cha

It is the twenty-fourth century and human society has reached a new level. Everyone speaks Earth Common and countries do not really exist anymore. Everyone has their own Artificial Intelligence that can look like anything from a balloon with a face to an animal, but which can never look like a human.

This world refuses to forget its history and so there are places called History Camps all over the place where people reenact and live like those from the past. The History Camps help children to le...more

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May 28, 2011 Sensitivemuse rated it 3 of 5 stars

Okay. Word to the wise; there is sci fi elements, but you won’t be spending too much time in the future world. The book is mostly set in 14th century Italy. That being said, this might disappoint some readers who are looking forward to reading about a post-dystopian world. I didn’t mind as historical fiction was always something I liked to read. Mixing historical fiction with science fiction elements also provides an interesting story. The sci-fi element does make a significant impact on the sto...more Okay. Word to the wise; there is sci fi elements, but you won’t be spending too much time in the future world. The book is mostly set in 14th century Italy. That being said, this might disappoint some readers who are looking forward to reading about a post-dystopian world. I didn’t mind as historical fiction was always something I liked to read. Mixing historical fiction with science fiction elements also provides an interesting story. The sci-fi element does make a significant impact on the story (with Pan) but it doesn’t overpower it. Which is nice, as there’s lots of historical setting descriptions to provide a good accurate setting that is easy to picture.

I thought it was interesting the author decides to make this book a post-dystopian society/setting. With all the dystopian fiction out there, this is an interesting and refreshing twist. Although not all the answers on how the setting came to be is revealed. It would have been nice to provide that bit of background information, alas it’s not necessary.

The main general plot was really good. It gets even better towards the end with a good action climax and the ending leaves you wanting to know what happens next (there is a bit of a sneak preview of the second book at the back). As mentioned before, I liked the description of the historical setting. Not only was it concise and in detail but it was enforced and repeated throughout the novel. I can only think this is because it makes the characters (and the reader included) realize how much everything is taken for granted. The constant reminder of people’s rotting teeth was rather gross, but it really does enhance the setting, and lets you count your blessings for being born in a different time period.

The three characters were nicely written and well done. I would have preferred to see more of Lincoln in this story (he is a smart aleck and has a funny quote or two). Yet the story focuses a lot more on Hansum and a little on Shamira. Lincoln does disappear for some time during the last half of the book however I am hoping he would come back with a bigger role in the second book. I’d have to say I liked how all three developed in their own way. Lincoln ends up maturing a lot as he used to be the real mouthy and rebellious one of the three. I liked Hansum, he was the steadier and unspoken leader of the three plus the love story with Guilietta provides a good part of the romance in the book - I thought they were rather cute together. Although besides Lincoln, I liked Pan a lot too. He helped the three through their adventures, but also provided a means of making their living situations improve (however it does have consequences). I’d like to know more in detail what consequence this may have in the future, but for now you do see a change in Pan’s appearance (which is comical).

With such a unique idea of the History camps and an interesting blend of science fiction and historical fiction, this book was a real fun read. It had a bit of everything in one well written book. Readers might also notice it’s also an interesting history lesson on 14th century Italy (well, at least on how people lived back then). I would definitely recommend this to other readers (I think it’s most suited for those that like YA). It’s certainly a different read and lets readers take a break from the massive amounts of dystopian fiction out there. (less)

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Aug 14, 2012 Adela rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: free-friday-nookbook

This book gets 1 star (instead of zero) because it had the benefit of putting me to sleep at night. Pretty much without fail. And I greatly appreciated that. Basically, these kids are "tough cases" (of what, I'm unsure) and are send to "hard time history camp" where they are supposed to, I guess, learn valuable life lessons and turn their wayward lives around. Only they're still jerky little brats and end up time traveling to the real 1300s Verona (instead of the fake one they had been in). The...more

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Apr 13, 2011 Jess Bierschied rated it 4 of 5 stars

THE LENS AND THE LOOKER, by Lory Kaufman brings you to the perfect world, post-dystopian where nothing bad can happen. Trouble making kids don't get detention, they get History Camp, a place from the past with all the details included. The three trouble-making kids make too much trouble in History Camp and end up in the past, for real. I was engaged the whole time waiting to see what was going to happen! This was a great read!

I loved the idea of time-travel. That is what caught my eye when I wa...more

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The Lens and the Looker (The Verona Trilogy #1)

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