Cousins Zammie and Kyla lived a typical middle school existence until the day their neighbor, the old East Indian man they called "Mister G" gave Zammie a small silver doll as a gift. They weren't sure what to make of the doll at first, but they quickly learned that the figure had amazing powers including the ability to transport them through time allowing them to experience famous moments in history in ways most people could never imagine. In their first time trip, Zammie and Kyla arrive in ancient Greece around 480 B.C., at the dawn of the Second Persian Invasion. They meet a young farm boy named Argo who is searching for his kidnapped sister, and the cousins decide to tag along and help. Along their journey they meet the mystical Oracle at Delphi, become stowaways on a merchant ship, evade pirates while being stranded in the Gulf of Corinth, and eventually outwit a powerful land owner while attempting to free Argo's sister. They also learn much about the history of Greece at this time, what kind of food the people ate, how people dressed, and how they told stories.