Journey to San Jacinto

Mr. Barrington's Mysterious Trunk #2

by Melodie A. Cuate

WInner of the 2008 Western Heritage Award, Juvenile Books Where has Mr. Barrington gone? Follow Hannah, Nick, and Jackie back in time to the Texas Revolution as they search for clues leading to the missing Texas history teacher. Mr. Barrington's niece, Miss Barrington, begins the countdown to the past when she opens the lid on the mysterious trunk belonging to her uncle. She and the girls suddenly find themselves in 1836, traveling with a Texian soldier transporting ammunition for General Sam Houston only days before the Battle of San Jacinto. Meanwhile, Nick discovers what life is like as a soldier after the Mexican army finds him hiding in a tree. Join the children on their historic adventure as the Battle of San Jacinto unfolds before their eyes and they become acquainted with the famous Texian and Mexican soldiers who shaped the future of Texas.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy

160 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2007

About the author

Melodie A. Cuate writes books about Texas history for children.

Reviews

[Justine Pfeiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, Journey to San Jacinto. It was a great way of making learning about history seem enjoyable and fun. This was actually the 2nd book of the series, I am currently reading the 3rd book that comes after this one. This book was about Hannah, her brother Nick, and her best friend jackie going back in time to the Battle of San Jacinto. They went back in time by using a old chest that was full of historic items that one of their teachers owned. They actually went into it by mistake because they didn't want to go back because of the incident that happened the last time they went in. They experienced many ups and downs while they were in the battle, like Jackie almost dying from a mountain lion, and Nick meeting a new friend. Jackie and Hannah ended up going together, while Nick was trying to run away, but got sucked in too. Jackie and Hannah ended up with some Texan slave fighters, while Nick ended up in the strict Mexican army of Santa Anna. Jackie and Hannah met a guy that was willing to help them find Mr. Barrington's chest so that they could get back to the future. They ended up finding Mr. Barrington there with them and were able to get out, once they found the hidden chest. Nick unfortunately lost one of his friends that he met, Diego, but has moved on. They all ended up safe and sound, back in Mr. Barrington's classroom. I definitely am excited to read the rest of the series. I hope that the next books are just as entertaining.

[M.bigler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Journey to San Jacinto is historical fiction that sends Nick and his younger sister Jackie and her friend Hannah back in time to rescue Mr. Barrington. He is their school teacher who goes missing. His neice, who is also his substitute, opens the magical trunk and sends them back in time to the Battle of San Jacinto in Texas. Jackie, Hannah, and Mrs. Barrington enter the battle of the Texas side while Nick enters as a prisoner on the Mexican side. Together they rescue Nick while the reader learns about the Mexicans quick defeat in the battle. They barely make it back to their homes in current day by rebuilding the truck after it had taken a hit from a cannon shot during the battle. When they return they realize time not a second of time has passed.
This book taught me about new historical facts while having an interesting storyline with it. It was not one of my favorites but was a quick read and better than reading from a textbook.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Battle of San Jacinto by Melodie A. Cuate, Hannah Taylor comes back to school after her Journey to the Battle of the Alamo and notices her teacher Mr. Barrington is absent and his niece is substituting for him. They make the mistake of opening the trunk and traveling back in time to th Battle of San Jacinto. Hannah and Jackie experience what it was like to be on the Texas side of the battle, but Nick experiences what it was like to be on the Mexican side as a soldier. They search for Mr. Barrington their missing Texas History teacher. I recommend this to anyone looking to see what the Battle of San Jacinto was like and see the battle unfold to the young Hannah and Nick Taylor and Jackie. I really enjoyed this book and thought it made the information a lot more interesting than my textbook. I learned and took a lot of information from this book to my Texas History class.

[Jonathan H. · Rating 1 out of 5]

After Hannah, Jackie, and Nick are whisked back to Texas and the Battle of San Jacinto after Hannah gets a message from her teacher trapped in the past. Hannah, Jackie, and their substitute teacher who is their teacher's niece, arrive in a field and are rescued by a Texan soldier. Nick ends up farther away and stumbles upon a group of Mexican soldiers marching to San Jacinto. Nick is soon put into the position as a soldier. As the battle looms in the near future, Nick makes friends that he may soon lose. Will Nick survive? Can Hannah and Jackie save their teacher?
This historical fiction book isn't very good. I didn't like it, because there was just too much dialogue and no action. I would not recommend it to anyone unless they are trying to finish the series of these books.

[Serryn L.]

This journey to the past, makes you want to learn more. Also, it helps you to understand the history of Texas. Though we were required to read these and otherwise I would not have normally read this book, I am glad I did. It helped me greatly in my understanding of Texas history.

This book follows Hannah, her best friend Jackie, and her brother Nick, who go back in time using their teacher's old trunk that mysteriously transports them into different historical event until it feels like they have learned the lesson it wanted them to. In this book, the three go back in time to the battle of San Jacinto, the winning battle might I add, in the war for independence from Mexico. This is an amazing book and I recommend it to any and all history enthusiast.

[Lukav · Rating 2 out of 5]

Journey to San Jacinto by Melodie A. Cuate is a story about how four people, a brother, sister, a friend of the sister, and a niece of their history teacher go back in time to the Battle of San Jacinto. They experience events that could have happened to everyday Texans, such as conscription into the Mexican army and joining a supply wagon for the Texans. In the end, all of them experience the the final and decisive battle for Texan independence.

Journey to San Jacinto is the second book in a series of five books (as of the time I am writing this). I would recommend this book to people interested in Texas history.

[Katheryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was disappointing. The author started the book in present day in a school with children that travel back in time. By doing this, I feel she tried to be relative to culture today and enthrall a reluctant reader by showing them that history can be cool. The actual history parts of the novel lacked facts and details that would alone be captivating in and of themselves. I regret to give this book less stars but it left out so many important details. History was the minor character in this book and that was not the point of our reading it.

[Jennifer Yan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time-travelling kids, humor, historical facts... they're all in this book. Overall, it was a good book, but the plot would become boring at times. Sometimes I felt like skimming through the pages until the book hit an interesting part. As a 7th grader, this book would be too kiddy for me, but I would recommend it to younger audiences (perhaps 2nd or 3rd graders).

[Mira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is the best book ever! It is all about the San Jacinto War! It is not the boring text book though. This makes learning the war fun! I would recommend this book to boys and girls for fun and for school!

-Mira

[Jadd H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book based on the History of San Jacinto. It is also fiction which provides great information along with a funny storyline!

[Alexandria K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reviewed this on my blog at Musings of an Arthritic Artist