Book 20 in the series takes the time-travelling foursome on a journey that will eventually lead them to the home of one of the great scholars of the 18th century - Dr Samuel Johnson, the compiler of the first ever English dictionary. But there's more to this adventure, as the youngsters discover that slavery in the 1750s was much closer to home than they ever realised.

When a ship from the Caribbean arrives in 18th-century Bristol, a young slave boy seizes his chance to escape. As Cuffey flees through the docks he meets three children and their cat who are far from home in more ways than one. They haven’t come from another country, but another time – the 21st century.

Together, the young time-travellers and the runaway slave embark on a journey that takes them across the country to London… and the start of a gripping adventure.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GRJ8M33X

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GRJ8M33X

"The Shadow of the Slave Ship is actually the twentieth book in this amazing series. The author does an excellent job in the preface to explain what has happened and how both the parents and the children manage to embark on their journeys through time. Although this book is slated as a children's preteen novel, it is eminently readable for young adults, also. The character development is excellent, and readers will be able to identify with and root for the young time travellers. The author uses the story to highlight the injustices, moral repugnance, and the stain on humanity that slavery inflicted on a supposedly civilized Western society. Although the story focuses primarily on the children’s journey, I appreciated the author also telling the story, at times, from their parents’ perspective. The inclusion of notable historical characters of the period, in this case, Dr. Samuel Johnson and his beloved cat Hodge, adds authenticity and historical context. I particularly enjoyed the sometimes-sardonic wit and understated wisdom of Max, the talking cat. He is definitely one of the story's stars. The mysterious Guardians of Time also added dimension to the story, with their trained agents sent back into the past to provide guidance to wrongdoers and the opportunity to put right mistakes that may have been made. This is a remarkably complex and nuanced story that is easy to read and absorb. As an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend it."

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