We loved Arlo's first book and the second was a great continuation of his tale of magical, time traveling scouting in the Long Woods.
This time, Arlo and a few members of the Blue Patrol of the Pine Mountain Rangers go into the woods and meet themselves -- on the other side of a broken bridge, deep in the woods.
The other "them" motions for them to retrieve something from under a boulder marked with an "A." It's a flashlight, hopelessly rusted. Arlo throws it over the gap and they open it. In a fit of pique, Arlo yells at them, awakening the troll under the bridge.
They have to run for their lives and the Woods spits them out 20 miles from home. Arlo calls his Uncle Wade, who denies ever being a member of the mysterious "Yellow Patrol," to pick them up.
Then a stranger comes to town. He knows Arlo, pulls him into some kind of trance while at the diner, and sets into motion... a series of mysterious events only Arlo can stop. Because, in typical time traveling fashion, the beginning is the end.
I freely admit, time travel in stories makes my head hurt. I read it and tried not to think too hard about it -- just enjoy the ride!
