Backtracked

by Pedro De Alcantara

Book Overview

Tommy Latrella is haunted by the ghost of his perfect older brother, who died on 9/11. Unable to live up to Jimmy's memory, Tommy spends countless hours riding the subway and tagging the stations with... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385734190
• ISBN13: 9780385734196
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 12 to 15 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 10

Customer Reviews

Backflips for Backtracked

It's hard to resist the charms and momentum of Backtracked, a story that hurtles along like a speeding train. Tommy Latrella's travels through various eras of New York City using the subway system as a time-travel portal bring the history of New York alive in an exciting and imaginative way. Backtracked is guaranteed fun for the whole family. Can't wait to see this story on the big screen!

A Subway Revelation

A great read for any age. As a lifelong NY subway rider I was happily surprised to read subway lore and history I never knew. And great history education for kids too!

Page turning time travel yarn for teens and adults

Backtracked: is fast paced, it's got true New York subway grit, graffiti, mafiosi goons,time travel- what else could a teenager want?

It tracked me back

BacktrackedI just finished Backtracked. It's a whale of a tale. While reading it, I sometimes missed Becky Cohen (the main character in another work by Pedro de Alcantara), because I related more to her than I did to Latrella, despite his being Italian (like me), and having traveled to 1918, the year of my Father's birth, and through historical pockets that my ancestral family would have recognized. Backtracked is a bit dark but utterly captivating. I especially enjoyed the way the history came to life, and the way de Alcantara made the reader feel present. Some of the subway history made me remember my early travels on some of those subways that no longer exist or no longer exist in the same way. All in all, the book is amazingly imaginative and beautifully written. It ends brilliantly. This is a book aimed at young adults that this very old adult enjoyed enormously.

Imaginative, engaging and not just for teens.

This book is supposed to be for the teen set, but I am way beyond that and thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only is the story engaging and entertaining but the details in the historical time periods are perfect. This book screams major motion picture!