Stevenson, Chris. The Drum of Destiny.

Stevenson, Chris.  The Drum of Destiny.  Capstone/Stone Arch      2016  220p  $8.99  ISBN 978-1-4965-2674-8  elem/ms  Historical fiction  VG-BN    

Gabriel is a 12-year-old boy who has lost both parents to the pox and finds himself living in New York City in the home of a prominent loyalist in the 1770s. When his pro-Patriot sympathies become clear to his host family, he is thrown out on the street and must make decisions about his future alone. Gabriel knows only one thing: he views King George as a tyrant and supports the struggle for independence that he has heard so much about. When he finds an old drum washed up on the beaches, he is inspired to go to Boston and become a drummer boy for the Revolution. His adventures in getting there and becoming involved with historical figures like Washington, Benedict Arnold and Nathaniel Greene are well written and involve the reader intimately in an excellent historical slice life.
As the author explains in the afterword, Gabriel is fictional, but there really were boys like him, who found themselves fighting for the Revolution without benefit of parents or guardians. The afterword, glossary, discussion questions and writing prompts round out this historical fiction very nicely. A timeline would be a welcome addition as well.   

Summary: In this historical novel, Gabriel Cooper, an orphan boy of about twelve, becomes enamored of the fight for American independence and makes his way from New York City to Boston, where he joins the revolutionaries.

American Revolution-Fiction               --Carol Kennedy  

Rinaldi, Ann. The Family Greene

Rinaldi, Ann. The Family Greene
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin 2010 250p 17.00
978-0-547-260067-9 elm/ms Historical E-BN
Cornelia is the daughter of General Nathaniel Greene, second in command to George Washington during the Revolution. Since her mother was such a flirt, Cornelia struggles with the rumors concerning her father not being her real father.
The time period of the Revolution and the encampment at Valley Forge were both serious and frivolous times. The wives of various generals did much to raise the spirits of the troops. It was these so called indiscretions that caused Cornelia to wonder about her parentage. She loved her father and siblings, but her mother’s flirtations distressed Cornelia.

The author has written a thought provoking suspenseful story in which Cornelia tries to decide if her father is General Wayne or her father. At one point she confronts the General Wayne and asks about her parentage. He doesn’t respond to her because if he did Cornelia would think less of her mother. And he wanted her to learn that love and trust are important in a family.

Throughout the years Cornelia struggles with the identity of her father. But she also comes to learn that in addition to families have the power of love on their side as well as messy encumbrances.
The novel will be read and appreciated by readers who enjoy historical fiction. They will also appreciate that Cornelia in the end of the story did not really care that she never got an answer from General Wayne. This is a well written book that is recommended as a Books of Note. It would be an excellent addition to any middle school or secondary school library. McNeil, Linda
U.S. History