A Most Unusual Friday Knight by Alan Frost

History is now in the hands of two orphans, a border collie, and a depressed inventor

For as long as Johnny and Ella have known him, Shawn has been that odd but sad man who lives in the shed at the orphanage run by his iron-fisted sister. Every day, the kids watch from the windows as he walks the dog, fixes things, and takes his sister’s belittling with only a sigh.

Everything changes the night Johnny and Ella decide to investigate lights flashing from the shed. The night they discover Shawn’s time machine, which sends them all to medieval England – to a time of mighty castles, jousting tournaments, and wild animals.

But when they witness the injustice of a greedy lord and his champion knight, a simple jump to the past turns into a seemingly impossible quest to save the lives of innocent villagers – as well as their own. All complicated by Shawn’s odd behavior and terrible manners, leaving it up to Johnny and Ella to teach him how to behave properly.

With a combination of modern technology, ingenuity, and trickery, can two orphans, a dog, and a sad inventor change the course of history?

A story that both kids and parents will love

This is a time travel children's book for ages 8-12. It is a light-hearted and amusing tale which is sure to entertain kids while teaching important lessons about standing up to bullies, being there for one another, helping those who need it, relying on your wits, and behaving considerately towards others. One of the most important dynamics of the story is the role reversal. Here, it is the adult who needs help from the kids in order to understand social interactions, not offend others and avoid getting into trouble. This is often a source of fun and humor, but it also a way to teach these lessons indirectly and without being preachy.