I read this book to my 4 youngest kids, ages 5, 7, 9, and 11. Every one of them LOVED it! They wanted me to read chapter after chapter. It reminded me of a Christian Magic Tree house, but, according to my 11 year old, "more exciting because there's fighting and stuff in it."

They already want more Imagination Station books.

(3.5 / 5)

After cousins Beth and Patrick have an argument about loyalty and betrayal, Whit sends them on an adventure in the Imagination Station. They arrive in 1521 and become part of Magellan's expedition to circumnavigate the globe for a few days and along the way learn a little something about loyalty and betrayal.

I like the idea of the Imagination Station so much more when it's more like a holodeck adventure. Since it's apparently meant to be actual time travel in this series, some of the things that happen are just a bit too unbelievable to me. Still, I like the way it brings moments of history to life for young readers, and this one was no exception. Some of the details shared by Beth (who may know more than makes sense for her age, even after having just done a report about one of Magellan's ships) were interesting to learn about.

The time travel aspect and historical characters aside, the actual characters of Beth and Patrick took a hit in this story, in my opinion. While it certainly makes sense that they wouldn't be perfect kids and would even sometimes get into fights with each other, Beth did not know when to keep her mouth shut, and Patrick was just a little jerk at times. Overall, though, it's a fun look at historical accounts, written for kids, from a Christian viewpoint.

Islands and Enemies is about another adventure that cousins Patrick and Beth take in Mr. Whittaker’s Imagination Ststion. After the cousins become upset with one another after a fall out after school Mr. Whit knows the solution an adventure to Cebu to meet the real life Magellan and learn a lesson in loyalty and what it means to be a true friend. Mr. Whit has given them some new inventions to try out on this adventure that make their trip more memorable.