About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the weight of responsibility or the idea that doing the 'right' thing can sometimes feel unkind. It is an excellent choice for middle schoolers who are moving beyond simple hero stories and starting to explore the ethical gray areas of history and science. The story follows time-traveling siblings Jonah and Katherine as they attempt to return Albert Einstein's daughter, Lieserl, to her proper place in the timeline, only to face fierce resistance from her mother, Mileva. At its heart, the book explores the deep ache of a mother's love and the difficult choices young people must make when their duties conflict with their empathy. It balances high-stakes science fiction with a grounded, emotional look at how we treat the 'lost' figures of history. Parents will appreciate how it humanizes historical icons while challenging readers to think about the consequences of their actions on others.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: There is a significant amount of emotional distress surrounding the separation of a parent and child. Mileva's desperation to keep Lieserl is depicted with visceral intensity. There are also moments of mild peril involving the 'fizzing' or disappearing of people from the timeline, which can feel eerie or unsettling. 2. CONVERSATION: Be ready to discuss the historical reality of Lieserl Einstein, whose fate is actually unknown to history. Be ready to discuss the historical context of gender discrimination, as Mileva’s professional erasure and lack of agency may be frustrating or upsetting to readers.
Ideal Reader
A 12-year-old who loves 'what if' history and enjoys stories where the kids have to be smarter than the adults to save the day.
Parent Prep
The book provides the necessary historical context, but parents should be aware the story centers on the intense emotional conflict of a mother being forced to give up her child. A parent might reach for this after hearing their child complain that 'the rules aren't fair' or when the child expresses interest in the personal lives of famous figures.
Age Experience
Younger readers (10) will focus on the gadgets and the 'spy' elements of time travel. Older readers (13-14) will likely be more affected by Mileva's plight and the ethical dilemma of 'fixing' history at the cost of human happiness.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many time-travel books that focus on gadgets, this one focuses on the intellectual and emotional cost of messing with time, specifically through the lens of a mother's love.
Read plot summary
In the fifth installment of The Missing series, Jonah and Katherine are sent to 1903 to return Lieserl Einstein (Albert's 'lost' daughter) to the proper timeline. However, they discover that Mileva Einstein, a brilliant scientist in her own right, has figured out the mechanics of their time travel. Mileva is determined to keep her daughter, even if it risks the fabric of time. The protagonists must navigate the intellectual power of the Einsteins while dealing with the mysterious J.B. and the shifting rules of the Time Institute.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Mileva Einstein is a brilliant scientist, but history mostly remembers Albert. How does this affect her reaction to Jonah and Katherine?
2
If you had the power to change history to save one person, but it might change the whole world for the worse, would you do it?
3
Jonah often feels like he is just a 'pawn' for J.B. and the Time Institute. At what point in the book does he start taking more agency for his own choices?
4
Why is Mileva's knowledge of time travel so dangerous to the mission? Is it more dangerous than a physical weapon?
5
How does Katherine's perspective as a sister change the way the siblings handle the situation with Lieserl?
