For young readers who love pulse-pounding action and historical adventure, this book explores the courage and teamwork needed to face overwhelming odds.
A parent might reach for this book when their action-loving child is ready for a chapter book that combines high stakes with historical context. This fast-paced adventure plunges three young time travelers, Dak, Sera, and Riq, into the middle of a 9th-century Viking siege of Paris. The story is a whirlwind of narrow escapes, strategic thinking, and historical puzzles. It powerfully illustrates themes of teamwork, bravery, and resilience, as the friends must overcome their own disagreements and fears to succeed. Appropriate for middle-grade readers who enjoy series like The 39 Clues, it's an excellent choice for reluctant readers, using a thrilling science-fiction premise to make history exciting and accessible.
The book deals with historical violence in the context of battles and a siege. The threat of death is constant, and there are sword fights and descriptions of warfare. However, the violence is not graphic or gory; it focuses on the action and peril. The approach is entirely secular and historical. The resolution of the immediate conflict is hopeful for the protagonists' mission, but it realistically portrays the harshness of the era.
Ideal Reader
This book is perfect for a 9 to 11-year-old who loves action movies or video games and is perhaps a reluctant reader. They enjoy history when it's framed as a high-stakes adventure, not a dry lesson. This child is graduating from simpler series like Magic Tree House and wants more complex plots and higher peril.
Parent Prep
The book can be read cold, as it effectively recaps the series' premise. Parents should be aware of the PG-level action violence. It might be helpful to be prepared for questions about Vikings, as the book could spark a genuine interest in the historical period. No specific scenes require previewing, but the overall intensity is a step up from younger chapter books. A parent has a child who says, "History is boring," or who just finished a Percy Jackson book and is looking for another adventure series that weaves in real-world history or mythology.
Age Experience
A younger reader (8-9) will be captivated by the non-stop action, the cool gadgets, and the clear good-vs-evil conflict. An older reader (10-12) will better appreciate the historical details, the strategic elements of the conflict, and the more nuanced arguments between the three main characters about the ethics of their mission.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many historical fiction series for this age, Divide and Conquer integrates a strong science-fiction framework. The overarching mission to "fix" time, orchestrated by a secret society and opposed by another, gives the historical setting a unique, video-game-like urgency and structure that sets it apart from more straightforward historical adventures.
Read plot summary
The second book in the Infinity Ring series, this installment drops the three young Hystorians, Dak, Sera, and Riq, into 9th-century Paris during a massive Viking siege. Their mission is to correct a "Break" in history, which involves navigating the besieged city, interacting with historical figures like Rollo the Viking, and using their wits and 21st-century knowledge to survive. The plot is driven by constant action, chases, and strategic problem-solving, all while the friends clash over the best course of action and grapple with the morality of changing the past.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Sera believes in careful planning, while Dak prefers to act quickly. In the situations they faced in Viking Paris, which character's approach do you think was more successful and why?
2
The Hystorians' rule is to observe history, not change it. Riq struggles with this rule when he sees people suffering. Do you think it's ever right to break a rule to help someone?
3
Imagine you could use the Infinity Ring to travel to one historical event. Based on Dak, Sera, and Riq's experience, what would be the biggest challenges you would face?
4
The Vikings are shown as both fearsome invaders and clever leaders. Did the book change your perception of Vikings at all? How are they different from what you expected?
