It is the year 1787. You have travelled back to the time when Australia was a prison colony for English criminals. You are in the stifling hold of a prison ship bound for Australia. Suddenly a hand reaches out of the darkness and grabs your shoulder. Do you confront your attacker? Or do you try to twist free and escape? Your decision can lead you to safety -- or leave you stranded in time! Are you ready to face the danger? The Time Machine series challenges young readers to use their imagination and decision-making skills to write their own story. Options in the text allow readers to choose any path they like within the plot. Readers must draw on background information about the period to make the right choices. This makes the series a great educational device for youngsters to learn about history and all the different cultures, events, and periods that shaped it.