Jack Bolt and the Highwaymen's Hideout

by Richard L. Hamilton, Sam Hearn (Illustrator)

When a gang of 18th century highwaymen break into Jack Bolt's bedroom, they are in for quite a surprise-they've landed in the 21st century! Luckily for them, Jack agrees to keep their time-traveling secret to himself, if they agree to show him what it's like in the 18th Century. Jack soon realizes that the past is far from safe, and he finds himself caught up in a breathtaking and dangerous adventure. This galloping and swashbuckling tale will delight all would-be time travelers from beginning to end.

Genres: Middle Grade

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[izzy horton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite childhood books, and not going to lie, I saw it and felt as thought I needed to read it again even though it's meant for kids! It has a really sweet ending! If you are looking for a book for aged around 6-11 year olds then this is an option, boys especially! Basically wrote this review to justify reading it haha :)

[Anne Patkau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid, warm, smelly. Polite highwayman Lord Henry Vane wakes Jack 10 by stumbling into the boy's bedroom from 1752. Lady Emily, his childhood crush, finds Henry again on her wedding eve.

[Mel Raschke]

Time travel, both ways, provides the action in this light adventure story. Jack, age 10, wakes up to find eighteenth-century highwaymen in his bedroom in his grandmother’s attic. It is the perfect hideout for the crooks, “a secret room in another time,” a place to store their booty. When they go home, Jack travels with them, thrilled to be part of the gang. There is no violence. In fact, the gang leader, famous gentleman-robber Henry Vane, prides himself on his charm, and there’s a bit of mystery and romance surrounding his identity.

[Katharine Ott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple, but engaging story of time-travel for Jack, who is staying at his grandmother's cottage, and a group of highwaymen who stumble into his bedroom from the past looking for a place to hide their loot. This is Jack's ticket to adventures with the group both in their time and the present. The fast-paced story shoots through some assorted plot lines and should appeal to adventurous young readers.

[Duane · Rating 2 out of 5]

A adventure set in the days of highwaymen and the times of early London. Although the story is interesting, there really seems to be no morally wrong theme in the thought of robbing people. As long as nobody gets hurt, it seems to be no problem. I like the idea of the time traveling, but it just wasn't contstructed properly.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Very adventurous, but maybe slightly too encouraging of robbery, lying and getting into trouble without any serious consequences. While it does like place in the 18th century, it doesn't really offer much in the way of historical content.