Road to Revolution (Cartoon Chronicles of America )

Mack, Stan & Susan Champlin
Road to Revolution (Cartoon Chronicles of America )
Bloomsbury see St. Martins 2009 122p 10.99 978-1-59990-371-2 all ages
This graphic novel is packed with action, humor, and the dramatic events of the American Revolution. Since the colonists wanted the British out of Boston, Nick and Penny try to help the cause. Nick (an orphan) and Penny (a daughter of a tavern owner) both lived in Boston. The political climate was tense. Although Nick and Penny come from completely different backgrounds, they have an idea of how to help getting the British out of Boston. It is a great read for young readers in which they will get a good combination of fact and fiction written in a very readable format that will entice even the most reluctant reader. However, they both need to gain the trust of someone in the inner circle of the revolution. Their campaign to oust the British begin when Nick accidentally bumps a British person who in turn knocks Penny to the ground and dirties her shirt. Dislike is instantaneous for both of them until they realize that they are on the same side of the situation. Their escapades will delight the readers as well as imparting historical information. In the epilogue the authors delineate what is fact and what is fiction for the readers. McNeil, Linda

Pirate Hannah Pritchard: Captured!

Pryor, Bonnie Pirate Hannah Pritchard: Captured!
Enslow 2009 160p $27.93 978-0-7660-3310-8 elm/ms
Historical Fiction Adventures(Enslow)

The band of pirates that Hannah Pritchard joined (dressed as a boy), are split to return to Massachusetts. Hannah’s group is captured and condemned to prison. The conditions are terrible so they plan an escape. This is the second Hannah Pritchard book. Dressed as a boy, Hannah and her band of pirates capture several British ships and find treasure. There are exciting sea battles between the pirates and the British. Off the Carolina coast, Hannah, Daniel and Dobbs go ashore to bury the treasure. They are captured by British soldiers. As captured rebels, the prisoners are treated poorly. The food is so bad and the air so foul Hannah doubted she would make it, but Daniel always encouraged her. They are transported to New York where they endure imprisonment in even worse conditions. They are so crowded they can not lie down but shuffle every few minutes to circle around an get a breath of fresh air from the tiny window. Eventually they are moved to a prison ship where conditions are deplorable and smallpox is raging. A brief respite comes by way a market woman who brings tiny niceties. They enlist her help to send a letter to Hannah’s friends in Portsmouth. Seeing sickness and death firsthand, they experience a winter with just a thin blanket. Realizing that they would probably die if they stay on the ship, they make plans for escape. Reaching a town along the Hudson, they steal a refurbished ship the night before the British were coming to claim it. At the beginning of the story there is a synopsis of book one. The text closes with detailed historical information about the time of the story. Theal, Joan