Timeless Travels of J.J. and Kelly by Jan Lawrence, Linda Raskin

J. J. is the smallest boy in his group of friends. To prove his bravery, he takes a dare to touch the door of weird old Mr Thompson's house--a place that most kids totally avoid. Just as J. J. is about to touch the door, Mr. Thompson opens it. In mortal fear, the boys pelt him with rocks and run to safety. J. J., however, feels badly about the rock slinging and blood on the old man’s face, and returns to see if he is hurt.

Mr. Thompson is easy to talk with—the two become friends over a period of time. The old man gives J. J. a gift of an old camera and requests that he take his picture while he holds a faded photograph of his wife. Lights flash. Mr. Thompson disappears.

J. J. respects his teenage sister, Kelly, who he identifies as a “brain” who values honesty and order. He has confided in her his friendship with Mr. Thompson. Now he entrusts her with the secret of the old man’s disappearance. Together they examine the camera and find roman numerals around the lens, and the words, “Those without knowledge of history are doomed to be lost in it.” During a family trip to London, the two discover the meaning of the numerals and words as they travel in time to adventures with King Henry the Eighth, Sir Francis Drake, and the mummified body of King Khufu of Egypt. As J. J. and Kelly learn to fine-tune the lens setting, we look forward tomore adventures of a brother and sister who really like each other

Jan Lawrence is a resident of of Pennsylvania and Linda Raskin resides in Delaware.