Shelby And the Shifting Rings: Book One in the Defender of Time Series - Hardcover

Veillon, A. M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0976201542 ISBN 13: 9780976201540

Publisher: Parity Pr, 2005

Synopsis

When orphaned Shelby Shodworth first arrived at Ms. Peabonnet's Academy for Girls, she knew it would be an adventure, but she never bargained for a mysterious stranger, a magical sword, and a curious star-shaped amulet that powers a hidden time machine. With the help of her brainy friend Molly MacPac, both girls stumble through a twisting labyrinth of questions. What Shelby doesn't realize is the answers she seeks will change her life--forever. Simultaneous.

About this title

About the Author

A. M. Veillon created the Defender of Time Series out of a desire to provide young people with a positive, exciting role model and to promote self-confidence and values. She is a recent winner in the 2004 Southwest Writer's Contest. A pilot for a major commercial airline, Veillon lives in Las Vegas with her family.

From the Inside Flap

When orphaned Shelby Shodworth first arrived at Ms. Peabonnet's Academy for Girls, she knew it would be an adventure. But she never bargained for a mysterious stranger, a magical sword, and a hidden underground passage - all of which lead her to a curious star-shaped platform that has the power to send its passengers back through time. In her search for answers, Shelby is thrust down a path paved with intrigue and danger. As a growing web of questions continues to spin its sticky trap, Shelby must persevere - even if it means risking all that she loves.

Reviews

Grade 5-7–Shelby, 12, never knew her father and her mother passed away two years ago. Her uncle sends her to Ms. Peabonnet's Academy for Girls, where the main building is a gothic castle; instructors have odd, subject-oriented names; and the classes–celestial science, logic and equations, and fencing–are not as expected. Shelby quickly runs afoul of both the school bully and testy Professor Nitpic. She loves fencing, however, and seems to have a mystical connection with it. The instructor says her style resembles that of a science professor who disappeared 10 years earlier. She discovers that he was her father and was conducting experiments with time and space. When she uncovers a hidden time machine, she is able to rescue her father; together they foil her evil uncle's scheme to use the device to control the world. Comparison with Harry Potter (Scholastic) is inevitable, but this novel lacks the imaginative sweep of Rowling's fantasy world. Background exposition is awkwardly presented, either in long text blocks or in lengthy dialogue lectures. The protagonist is well defined, but the other characters don't fare as well. Dialogue is often theatrical, and the black-and-white computer graphic pictures at chapter heads add little. There is a need for good fantasy adventures starring girls, but this one doesn't measure up.–Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
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Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1

The zipper was definitely stuck. Shelby tugged at the small metal tab repeatedly and mumbled in frustration, "This is the worst day, ever!" The instant the words left her lips, Shelby knew she was wrong. Today was a bad day, yes; but the worst day ever? Not hardly. Shelby had been through much worse during her twelve years. Specifically, that rainy day two years ago nothing could ever compare. She began the day at her mother s funeral and ended it in a strange new place, far from anything she knew. The hours in between were still a mishmash of memories: sad faces, the smell of wet dirt, the bang from a hammer as a "for sale" sign was pounded into the front yard and who could forget that strange man who claimed he was her uncle. Shelby never knew she had an uncle. Leviticus Pottsmore. That was his name.

It seemed her father had a half-brother, the only remaining relative in her family. The Colonel that s what he liked to be called. He was a solid man with fiery dark eyes. His legs were the size of tree trunks, wide and sturdy. Dark, deep-set eyes were capped with bushy black eyebrows the only sign of hair on his entire head! A silly brown military hat, always crisply pressed, did its best to stretch itself across the shiny surface between the Colonel s ears. Shelby could never muster enough courage to tell him how ridiculous he looked. Besides, she figured a sense of fashion was something that could never be taught; you either had it or you didn t. The Colonel definitely didn t.

The Colonel lived in Watercrest County, a four-hour car ride to another planet. At least, it seemed that way to Shelby. Her new home sat on Patchberry Lane a two-story green brick house wedged tightly between two other green brick houses, like matches in a box. It was amazing anyone could tell one house from the other. There was one noticeable difference, though, when it came to Shelby s new home on Patchberry Lane: On the north side of the house stood a massive oak tree.

Shelby reasoned the tree must have been a thousand years old. How else could it have gotten so big? The tree had hundreds of branches that were covered in dazzling displays of color throughout the year. The colors would range from varying shades of brilliant green to deep, burning reds and gold, depending on the season. No matter what time of year, though, the sight of the ever-present oak always brought a feeling of comfort to Shelby. This was something for which she was very thankful. And she was always looking for as many good things as possible. The oak tree reminded her to be strong and to have hope. No matter how big the storm or how strong the wind blew, the majestic oak seemed to relax and move freely with the force, as if it knew that a calm, sunny day was just around the corner. Shelby figured she would learn from the oak and bend instead of break.

Edition details

• Publisher: Parity Pr
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0976201542
• ISBN 13: 9780976201540
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 167