Back in Time with Thomas Edison

Qwerty Stevens #1

by Dan Gutman

Robert Edwards Stevens, nicknamed "Qwerty," likes digging in his backyard when he's in a bad mood. He doesn't dig for anything special -- he just digs to get his mind off things. One day, when he's really angry and has a lot on his mind, he starts digging...and THUNK! He hits something, a wooden box with a famous
Thomas A. Edison
Is this a phonograph created by the famous inventor himself? Or is it something even more incredible -- something that could take Qwerty right to Thomas Edison's doorstep? Get ready for one remarkable time-travel adventure!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Time Travel, Mystery, Science Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2001

About the author

The author of over 80 books in a little over a decade of writing, Dan Gutman has written on topics from computers to baseball. Beginning his freelance career as a nonfiction author dealing mostly with sports for adults and young readers, Gutman has concentrated on juvenile fiction since 1995. His most popular titles include the time-travel sports book Honus and Me and its sequels, and a clutch of baseball books, including The Green Monster from Left Field. From hopeful and very youthful presidential candidates to stunt men, nothing is off limits in Gutman's fertile imagination. As he noted on his author Web site, since writing his first novel, They Came from Centerfield, in 1994, he has been hooked on fiction. "It was fun to write, kids loved it, and I discovered how incredibly rewarding it is to take a blank page and turn it into a WORLD."

Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.

Reviews

[Sharanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day when Qwerty Stevens was digging up a whole in his backyard, due to his anger, he finds box. He calls his best friend who was a genius in History and was a math mathematician his name was Joey Dvorak. They figure out that it was one of Thomas Edison's invention. Thomas Edison had also attached a note to the box saying, 'The world is not ready for this.I'm not sure it eve next sure will be. October 1879.' That day, Joey recommends Qwerty to make a plug in the device and hook it up to his computer. Although when Thomas Edison had created this device, there were no computers, but they still wanted to give it a try.Qwerty also had his Spain report up on screen. But right when he plugged it in, and when Qwerty accidentally pressed enter on the keyboard, he was suddenly in Spain! He calls Barbra his sister, and when she pressed escape on the keyboard, Qwerty reappeared in his room. The three that new about the invention promised to keep it a secret. The next day, A scientist came to Qwerty's house asking for any machine that was new. He worked for the Sixth Sense, but was asking questions as if he knew that the invention was right here. The surprising part was that he knew what the invention was, but just couldn't find it. The next day, Qwerty hears beeps from the machine, realizing it is Morse Code. Qwerty was talking to Thomas Edison with Morse Code. Thomas Edison said that he needs help,but the rest got cut off. To find out what Thomas Edison meant, Qwerty takes the machine (Anytime Anywhere) and goes back in time to meet Thomas Edison. Turns out that Thomas Edison needed a filament for his light bulb to work. Thomas Edison wanted Qwert's help for him to get a light bulb from the future, so that he could take the materials and make a filament. Later on, Qwerty asked about the Anytime Anywhere machine, and why it was in his own backyard, but Thomas Edison said that he never buried the machine. Who buried the machine? Will Qwerty ever come back to his own time? Or will the mystery's answers be abandoned forever?

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Qwerty and his sister found the machine that Edison made and they will go back in time.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It combines fact and fiction to spin a compelling story. It is the first in the QWERTY series--which I didn't realize when I checked it out. I chose it as my book club is reading a book about Edison next year and I thought this might be a fun introduction. I will definitely read more in the QWERTY series.

I appreciate how the characters learn from their experiences and become better individuals over the course of the book. I also liked learning some of the history of Thomas Edison.

The ending is what really makes this book! You do have to have some suspension of disbelief, but then, as the author says, "I think of this book as a plausible fantasy. I try to blend fact and fiction to write an entertaining story that would also make the great inventor, Thomas Edison, come to life." The author then goes on to discuss which aspects are fact and which are fiction, which I think is very helpful. He also gives a timeline of Edison's history.

I actually listened to it as an audio book (ISBN # 9781980073390, by Recorded Books, narrated by Pierce Cravens), but that isn't an edition that I could select. I can't figured out how to add this edition.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short-tempered 13-year-old Querty, who digs in his back yard when he is frustrated, discovers a box buried deep in the ground. Curiosity motivates him to dig it up to discover what's inside. Thomas A. Edison's signature is scrolled across the top of the box in gold. This is an exciting time travel story, that shares many facts about Edison's method of inquiry in his special laboratory in "Room 5" with his group of brilliant men who never stopped trying new experiments for Edison's numerous inventions. This is a great STEM story emphasizing that failures are truly more important than instant success as new possibilities unfold, for an inventor. This is exciting AND easy to read, with enough drama (even a budding romance,) and suspense to keep the pages turning.

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Qwerty is a thirteen year old and his sister is sixteen. Their ages are older than the age group the book is aimed at. It was interesting traveling back in time to see Edison working on his light bulb. The twist at the ending was a little too convenient and disturbing since they have no memory of the altered timeline. It seems there will be questions. :)

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for Henry’s 3rd grade class. I am the book café parent volunteer and will do some crafts and games along with the book. I gave it 4 stars, not particularly for my enjoyment, but for a 3rd grade level read that is exciting and has information about history. It will be fun to discuss with his classmates!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasantville book club prompt - book by or about a ‘Thomas’. This was a cute book. I enjoyed the story line, characters, and sprinkling of historic facts. The author’s note and timeline that ended the book was a nice piece to really finish out the historical part.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good and my kids loved it. Some parts were a little weird, but overall entertaining.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure if I like this or not

[Juan-Diego · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book "The Edison Mystery was a good book because it helps people learn what Edison invented like the light bulb. For example I never knew that the material to light the bulb when Edison invented it was a fiber cotton. That I did learn about him. It also tells a funny story. For instance when "Qwerty's" mother scolderd him he stomped outside and got the shovel and started digging and he found a box with the Anytime Anywhere travel machine and he goes to Spain and by accident he tells a vendor " no puedo encontrar mis calconsillos ( I lost my underwear )". The meat of book is that Qwerty digs and finds a box with Anytime Anywhere travel machine in it then he calls his friend Joey Dvorak over. After that they find out that that is one of Edison's inventions. Qwerty wants to keep the machine a seret so he puts it in his closet with clothes laying over the machine hiding it. Then he experiments with it he is working on his Spain report project and since he is not doing his work he takes the machine out of his closet hooks it iup to his computer an presses every key execpt the ENTER key and he travels through space and lands in Spain then he calls Barbra his sister and tells he to press the ESCAPE key and out of nowhere Qwerty appeares in his room on Barbra's lap and he gets off. Then Barbra recuests a trip to Treats & Eat to get candy. Afterward Barbra appears at the candy shop and gets a watermelon cone and other candies and pays for it and then before she could get her shange she dissapeared all of the coustermers on line were dasseled. When Barbra was at home she thought " so it is possible to travel from one place to another without moving your body ahhhhhhhhhh".

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this book because the title was interesting and the picture on the front cover of the book seemed interesting. The plot of this book is that this boy like got mad at his mother for screaming at him and so when he gets mad or depressed he goes and digs holes, so when he dug up a hole in his back yard he found an old box. He took it to his room and opened it. He found out that it was an invention of Thomas Edison from several years ago. He connected it to his computer and when he pressed one of the keys on his keyboard, something happened...! My favorite quote in this book was, "There is a connection between all the natural governing forces of life- chemical, electrical, and magnetic. Knowing how these forces interact, I was able to build a machine that, I hoped, would be able to circumvent the limitations of space and time." Thomas Edison said this in the book; he means that with electricity and chemicals he was able to create and invent something very great to use. This author was unique because his writing was interesting and the way he described everything was in detail and interesting. I would recommend this book to a friend because it is very interesting and unique. It also goes back in time.

[Skyler P]

In Qwerty Stevens- Back in Time: The Edison Mystery, Qwerty digs up an old box containing a strange machine and a note saying “The world is not ready for this. I’m not sure it ever will be” and a signature from Thomas A. Edison. He soon figures out it can travel through space and time. One night, his computer starts making a morse code message from Thomas Edison and Qwerty decides to meet him at his house, just down the street. But he accidentally goes to his house in the year 1879, right when Edison is inventing the lightbulb. But the big question is: How will Qwerty get back home?
This reminds me of a TV show I saw, Doctor Who because the Doctor is a time traveler with a teleporting machine, and sometimes his time machine gets taken and he is stuck in some foreign time just as Qwerty was stuck in 1879 with Thomas Edison.
I would recommend this book to students who like science fiction and time travel specifically. The complexity and theme of the book is probably meant for grades 5-7 so it was a little easy for me, but if you like easy good books, this is good for you.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty average, easy-to-read story about a boy who finds a time travel box, purportedly engineered by Thomas Edison. Boy and sis find themselves back in Edison's time, and Gutman brings forth quite a bit of knowledge about Edison and his team of inventors. I thought that the teenage sister having a suitor was a bit creepy, but it did lead to a couple of funny moments showing how different language has become from the 19th century.

This would be a good read for 5th or 6th graders interested in Edison.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title on our edition is Back in Time with Thomas Edison: a Qwerty Stevens Adventure.

My nine year old son rates it 4 1/2 stars.

We both enjoyed the book. Gutman doesn't write deep, literary fiction. But he certainly writes books my reluctant readers enjoy. This one involves time travel, an introduction to Thomas Edison, and a boy developing a better relationship with his older sister. We will definitely seek out other Qwerty Stevens adventures.

[Nicholas Spano]

the main character has the nickname qwerty but anyway qwerty found out abput a box burried by tomas edison and qwerty lived right near edisons old house . Im think it was3 doors down or something. But qwerty digs a hole in his backyard and finds a box . It turns out to be well Im not gonna say find out by reading the book yourselve youll like this book trust me

[JoEll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book to preview it for my 3rd grade son's Historical Fiction book report and was pleasantly surprised how fun and educational it was. The mom was portrayed as a terrible mother, but that is explained and excused due to bad circumstances. Other than that...great read. Perfect for little boys who like to dig holes in the yard, invent things, and solve mysteries.

[Derick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is very interesting and very attractive,I really enjoy to read this book.It was liked a magnet,I couldn't put it down after I had started reading. I had read it twice before I returned it to the school library.

[Julier · Rating 4 out of 5]

13-yr old "Qwerty" discovers an "Anywhere, anytime Travel" machine invented by Thomas Edison in 1979. Ends with note from author: true and made-up parts of story plus chronology of Thomas Edison's life. [2004 Sasquatch Award]

[Reader Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The concept of time travel is always exciting. By meeting Thomas Edison through the eyes of a peer, Qwerty, we get a clearer perspective of what things were like in Edison's time. For some, it is more enticing than reading nonfiction book about Edison.

[Tamaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the greatest books I have ever read and learnt about Thomas Edison.

[Yi · Rating 5 out of 5]

cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

[Dottibug]

this book brings back time it seems like.

[Blain Dillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in order to assess this book so I could get my kids to read it. It was a good book for any kid who likes science, time travel, building things, or the movie "Back to the Future"

[Haghvray0 · Rating 1 out of 5]

IT STINKS! IT IS AWFUL! QWERTY IS NOT A CREATIVE NAME. AT ALL!!!!!!!!! LITTERLY!!!!!!!!!!

[Drepoison04]

it was a trilling book

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice semi-short book. This book is very confusing to comprehend when Qwerty returns from 1889.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another short book gotten for my son but sucked me in while I was "evaluating" it.

[Jean Kuper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good sci-fi kids book. My son says 5 stars!

[Erin Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for adolescents that are into science fiction or historical fiction.