Our middle grade book spotlight this week is all about going back to some of my New England roots. On the third Monday of April every year, there is a regional holiday called Patriots’ Day--it is to mark the occasions of the Battles of Lexington and Concord which are seen to be the start of the Revolutionary War. It is also when the Boston Marathon is traditionally run (which is one of the hardest 26.2 mile courses to run in the world) and the Boston Red Sox always play a late morning home game at Fenway Park so as the Marathon runners are going by, they can hear the amazing sounds of baseball. So, in honor of this day, our theme for this week is all about the Revolutionary War!!! We have a great mixture of historical fiction and nonfiction; some exploring the causes while others focus on specific people and events (and maybe some you have never heard about before). These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #youth1776 as well as on Libby and Hoopla. Check back next week for a new middle grade book spotlight and if you have any book suggestions, please let us know!!
Sophia’s War by Avi--Twelve-year-old Sophia Calderwood is determined to fight for the American cause during the American Revolution after she witnesses the execution of Nathan Hale in British-occupied New York City. However, it is only when John André, a handsome British officer quartered in her home, fails to help her brother, an American soldier, that Sophia becomes a spy and sets out to personally stop British forces from seizing West Point. Though Sophia has feelings for André, she seeks to fulfill her mission, traveling north to reveal his relationship with traitor Benedict Arnold to American forces.
Most Wanted by Sarah Jane Marsh--Recounts the partnership and efforts of early revolutionary founders John Hancock and Samuel Adams to resist the taxation by the British government, stir up support for the revolutionary cause, and participate in the Continental Congress.
Answering the Cry for Freedom by Gretchen Woelfle--Presents brief biographies of 13 African American men and women who fought for freedom and human rights during the American Revolution. Accompanied by timelines and silhouette artwork from award-winning illustrator R. Gregory Christie, the detailed yet accessible text teaches young readers about the contributions of these inspiring individuals, sparking an appreciation for the strength needed to overcome overwhelming circumstances.
Lafayette! by Nathan Hale--Presents a humorous graphic novel about Gilbert du Motier, who became the Marquis de Lafayette at an early age, and decided he wasn't satisfied with just position, so he boarded a ship at eighteen, became a major general at age nineteen, and journeyed to America to help fight for independence against the British.
The Thrifty Guide to the American Revolution by Jonathan Stokes--Offers modern-day time travelers a tourist's guide to the American Revolution that provides instructions for time travel, and recommendations for visiting local people, battles, events, and establishments. Includes maps, biographical sketches, sidebars, and humorous checklists and graphics.
Storyteller by Patricia Reilly Giff--Elizabeth, a twenty-first-century girl, finds a drawing of her eighteenth-century ancestor Zee who looks like her and feels a strong connection to her. As Elizabeth walks where Zee had walked, the past and the present begin to intertwine.