Farway Gaius McCarthy is on the verge of becoming a Recorder like his mother—a time traveler who records history in digital data streams—when something goes wrong. His final simulated test is sabotaged, and he’s expelled from the Academy. Becoming a time traveler means even more to Far since his mother, Empra McCarthy, and her mission team disappeared years ago: He’s determined to find Empra somewhere in time. So when the opportunity arises to time travel outside of the law, smuggling historic objects for a wealthy dealer, Far doesn’t think twice.
A year later, Far and his team have pulled off multiple heists in their time machine, the Invictus. But on their latest mission to retrieve an invaluable book that sank with the Titanic, they’re waylaid by a girl who already has the book, and she's demanding a place on the squad. Far immediately recognizes her as Eliot—the saboteur from his simulated test—but he’s forced to agree to her terms. With the mysterious and determined Eliot on board, Far and his crew are pulled into a literal race against time that could change—or even erase—their past, present and future.
Invictus is a meld of historical fiction, sci-fi and heist story rolled into one thrilling tale. Graudin (The Walled City) brings readers into the heads of all five members of the Invictus’ crew, revealing sweetness and insecurity in the face of epic events. While the novel at first appears to be the story of one exceptional boy, much of the action is carried out by the female crew: Imogen, Eliot and Priya. Perfect for teen readers eagerly awaiting the next season of “Doctor Who,” Invictus is a head-scratching, fast-paced adventure with surprising emotional heft.
