I was hesitant to read this, as I am a big Musketeer nerd and I get a bit, um, protective about my favorite characters. But this is just a fun read, aimed at the middle grades, though I enjoyed it being much (much) older than the targeted audience! ;) ( )

Grades 4-7: Greg Rich's family was once rich-- but his parents can't keep up the family estate any longer, and when the Louvre contacts them about selling the family heirlooms that date back to 17th century France, it sounds like a dream come true. They travel to Paris, where Greg is immediately distrustful of the strange Michel Dinicoeur, the Louvre representative who meets them. And with good cause-- once Dinicoeur gets his hands on a crystal that Greg's mother has always worn, he attempts to escape through a painting. Greg's family is swept through the painting as well, and they find themselves in the dark and smelly rooms of the Louvre 400 years ago. Greg manages to escape, but Dinicoeur holds his parents, and it is up to Greg to find a way to free them when they are injustly accused of trying to assassinate the king. Fortunately, Greg meets Aramis, who takes pity on the strangely-dressed boy of the 21st century. Greg has a suspicion that Aramis is one of the Three Musketeers that he read about, and this suspicion is confirmed when they later meet Athos and Porthos. Can Greg-- with the help of these Musketeers-- save his parents and stop Dinicoeur's evil plans? Although some of the plot twists are a little too coincidental, this is a fun romp that may inspire readers to get their hands on Dumas's original. ( )