On the list of things Washington Square would rather be doing, reading ranks right below cleaning his room. In fact, the only thing Washington wants to do on his summer vacation is play basketball, especially with the big tournament right around the corner. But one call from his teacher about his reading grades, and Washington's summer plans are about to be rewritten. Not only have his parents taken away basketball - they're making him read AND travel to East Texas for a family reunion. Could life get any worse? When Washington tires of his family, he grabs a book and goes off to read. But one swirl of dirt transplants Washington from his family's reunion to the past - where he encounters his ancestors and witnesses the brutal punishment of a slave when he is caught reading. After watching slaves long for something he took for granted, Washington just wants to return home. Will he ever see his family again, or will the circle of dirt keep him trapped in the past forever. In this amazing time travel book, Teffanie Thompson takes you on a journey into the past that is guaranteed to have you appreciating the present.