Mr. C’s heart began beating even harder. It was scary enough when he first heard that the president was visiting Rutgers. But it was ten times scarier when he found out that the president specifically asked to meet him and the other New Jersey Trackers! A few months earlier, the Trackers were involved in an unbelievable adventure that became known read more
“Well,” Mr. C said to his wife as he hurried along, “I don’t really know if I look like I didn’t get enough sleep. But I certainly didn’t!” “Why not?” “I had the strangest dream,” he said. Then he reached the library and rounded the corner. “I dreamed that I had to—” Suddenly the words died in his mouth, and read more
Mr. C went to the tree and studied it carefully. If I didn’t know any better, he thought, I’d say it was dying. He didn’t want to tell the kids this, however. They looked upset enough already. “But that’s not even the weirdest part,” Simon told him, and the other kids started nodding. “The weirdest part is—” “The dream,” Mr. read more
“Everyone ready? One...two...three!” The all reached out and put their hands on a different part of the tree. What happened next happened very fast. The world around them vanished, and a new one took its place. It was like in a movie, where one scene faded into another. “Wh...where are we?” Jamal asked. “I have no idea,” Chelsea said. “But read more
The Jersey Trackers stared at each other in disbelief for a long time. Then Cooper broke the silence. “I can’t wear this hat! It makes me look like a New England Patriots fan, and you all know I’m a Jets fan, like forever!” declared Cooper as he tried to put his tri-corner hat on backwards like a baseball cap. Everyone read more
When the Jersey Trackers entered the old city of Philadelphia there was excitement in the air. The cobblestone streets were filled with people dressed just like them. Shops were doing a brisk trade and crowds were happily milling about, smiling, tipping their hats to one another. “I wonder what’s going on?” asked Maya. “Me too,” added Jamal. “Well, we’re read more
"It’s 1776!!” she gasped. No one said a word until Jamal exclaimed, “But it’s July 8th, not July 4th!” “Now that is significant!” declared Mr. C. “This must have something to do with why we’re here.” “But what? And why on the 8th of July?” asked Simon. “Shouldn’t we have come back in time for our nation’s first birthday, on read more
As the crowd began to move toward Independence Hall, Simon and Gabby noticed a lone man pacing back and forth under a huge tree on the village green. He seemed to be deep in thought. “That man looks vaguely familiar,” said Simon to the Trackers. “Yeah, and there’s something about that tree,” added Gabby. “Come on, guys. Let’s get a read more
“I am indeed, young man, one and the same. Are you here for the first reading of our Declaration of Independence with your school master?” asked Benjamin Franklin, nodding to Mr. C. “Yes, Sir, we...ah…traveled from New Jersey,” answered Mr. C. “From New Jersey, our loyal sister colony,” answered Benjamin Franklin. “Then you crossed the Delaware River.” “In a manner read more
Just then the Trackers were surrounded by the crowd and swept toward Independence Hall to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in the booming voice of Colonel John Nixon. And when it was over, Cooper waved his tri-corner hat in the air and yelled “Woo Hoo!” But the crowd was cheering something else: Huzzah. “Coop, shout read more