Picking up shortly after first book in the series (set in 1964), Augusta Lee, or as everyone calls her - Gus, and her best-friend Cynthia (both twelve-year-old) are eager to return to Cynthia’s magical attic that took them back in time, where they resembled and was mistaken for their grandmothers. Once again they climb up to the cobweb invested attic and open the mysterious trunk that throws them back to the year 1914, where they hope to go to the circus with Gus’s great-grandfather, Charles, but their plans drastically change as their grandmothers, Clara and Bess, hide inside a crate that is in the back of the wagon. They might be able to fool Gus’s great-grandfather in believing they are their grandmothers, but their grandmothers will probably hear their voices from the crate causing an awkward situation that they would probably want to avoid.

Gus and Cynthia return to the attic where they find two clown costumes left there. They slip the costumes on and are magical transported to the circus, where they are mistaken to be new clowns by Blackie, the evil hobo clown and circus leader. They befriend a girl about their age named Annie. She was left as a baby at the circus and was raised the by an acrobat named Lilly.

The girls perform in a circus show; well they barely got through it as they had no idea how to be clowns. They try to find Gus’s great-grandfather and their grandmothers so they could try to hide in the wagon, but Blackie came looking for them, resulting in them hiding in the lions’ cage. The lions where peacefully asleep when the girls slipped inside the cage, and after awhile the girls were asleep too.

While they were asleep, Blackie decided to move the circus a day early. With no access to attic, the Gus and Cynthia start to panic, but they soon find two allies - the fortune teller, Gabriella, and her father, Thomas. They soon learn about Thomas’s brother, Damon, who stole the families’ treasures, including a time-traveling medallion, and kidnapped Gabriella’s infant daughter years ago. Now the only chance for Gus and Cynthia to return to their time is to find the medallion.

Cynthia’s Attic: The Magic Medallion is a fast-paced sequel that continues the time-traveling adventures of Gus and Cynthia. I have had this book for a few months, courtesy of the author, and I finally found time to read it between reviews. The two twelve-year-old characters are smart and adventurous, which most young readers can relate to. Since the book is set in 1964 there are no cell phones, video games, or computers to distract the girls from their imagination. I still haven’t figured why the attic is “magical” but maybe the author explains more about it in the other sequels. I read the book in one sitting and I think it is better than the first. I recommend it to readers of all ages. ( )

**2006 USA Book New Finalist Children’s Book Award

Mary Cunningham’s second book in the Cynthia’s Attic series, reunites best friends, Cynthia, and Gus for another trail-blazing adventure. The amateur sleuths have a nose for trouble and just can’t resist the urge to visit the mysterious old trunk in the attic. With non-stop action from cover to cover, there’s more than enough twists, turns and danger to keep readers up past well past bedtime.

Climbing the dusty stairs, the girls knew that although there were no ghosts, goblins or giant spiders in the attic, the real excitement was in great-grandmother’s old trunk. Expecting things to be just the way they had left them, the girls were shocked to find Cynthia’s great-grandfather’s circus train in-front of the trunk. Magically the girls are thrust back in time, to the year 1914, where they eventually find themselves forced to perform by a nasty hobo clown. Rescued from the sinister Blackie, by the beautiful, fortune teller, Gabriella, Cynthia and Gus have unwittingly become entangled in the theft of her family’s most cherished treasure. The adventure is wrought with danger as the girls must travel through time and locate the magic medallion. Should they refuse, they may never be able to return to their present-day lives.

In this second volume of the Cynthia’s Attic series, the girls meet a host of new and interesting characters and explore a wide range of settings. This is an irresistible adventure series - that has it all..entertaining, exciting and engaging,– a non-stop, thrilling ride through time. I eagerly await the third installment in this unique series!

Happy Reading!
RJ xx

Volume 3 in this wonderful youth series will be available December 2008!! Now is the perfect time to explore Cynthia’s Attic with the young reader in your family! ( )