Time Travel Weakens Court-Room Drama

I have to admit the cover of Sid Fleischman’s “The 13th Floor: A Ghost Story” intrigued me, but most of all the title drew me.

Who knows what sort of deep, alien creatures, such as Flushonians from the planet Flush or Gryxbyx from Xelanc, could be lurking on the 13th floor of some superstitious hotel’s elevator?

Instead, the hero of the book, Buddy Stebbins, and his sister, Liz, get a call from their (as Buddy puts it) “great-to-the-fifth power” grandmother, who is only 10 as she calls them to her time.

Yes, time travel. Liz vanishes and Buddy winds up back in time with another relative, Capt. John “Crackstone” Stebbins, a pirate leader who is burying his hidden treasure. This is where it gets kind of old, because Mr. Fleischman believes he is being funny, but kind of falls flat.

When Buddy and John are thrown off the ship by enemies and mutineers, they miraculously wind up in Boston, finding Liz, their grandmother (Abigail) and John’s wife.

Then trouble ensues. John kisses his wife (after being away for two years) on the Sabbath, which is a crime. Abigail is also being tried as a witch, and Liz (a modern-day lawyer) is helping her.

This is where the comedy begins. Abigail’s trial is being presided over by the honorable Judge Rattle (the best character).

Liz has come up with an intelligent, very ‘90s plan to save Abigail, but this is the 1600s. Women aren’t even lawyers yet, so Liz has Buddy take over.

If you are tired of O.J. Simpson, read this excellent courtroom drama, even though the time-traveling does weaken the story a little bit.