Tunnels of Terror

Mary St. Onge-Davidson is president of the Essential English Centre in
Ottawa.

On the heels of Tunnels of Time (2000), one of the fastest-selling
young-adult novels in this publisher’s history, Bishop again provides
us with a riveting high adventure set in Moose Jaw’s famous
underground tunnels that, in the past, were used by bootleggers and
gangsters.

This time, the time-traveling crime stoppers, 13-year-old Andrea and
her brother Tony, go down the tunnels and back in time to help uncover
an organized-theft ring, which includes corrupt police officers. The
story’s tension is heightened by Andrea’s fear of being trapped in
the cramped tunnels without necessary medical supplies. Its drama is
enhanced with the introduction of modern items and modern social
attitudes brought into the past making the whole effect of time-travel
an excellent comparison in history.

As a teacher-librarian in Saskatoon, Bishop knows what young adults
want to read, and she’s delivered a real page-turner. Andrea, facing a
continuous flow of dangerous situations, quickly sizes up those
situations and makes fast decisions. The fast-paced dialogue further
enhances the story’s excitement. An interior map of Moose Jaw’s
underground tunnels is included.

Readers do not need to read Tunnels of Time in order to enjoy Tunnels
of Terror, but it is recommended for those who want to familiarize
themselves with the characters. Highly recommended.