3 June 2002 THE YEAR OF THE HANGMAN by Gary Blackwood, Dutton, September 2002

"The streets of the city were not lighted by lamps as the streets of Bristol were, but the candlelight that shown from the windows of the houses seemed familiar and inviting. They approached a gate in the log wall. General Arnold identified himself, and the guards allowed them to pass through. 'Why do they need a palisade?' Creighton asked.

'To keep out the Indians and the English.'

The way Peter lumped the two together, as though they were equally barbarous and detestable, irked Creighton. 'What do they have to fear from England? The two countries aren't at war.'

'Not yet. But General Arnold says it's only a matter of time. He says the Brits would love to take New Orleans, because then they'd control the mouth of the Mississippi. They'd also have us patriots right where they want us: in prison or at the end of a rope.' "

I LOVE this premise! It's 1777. The British have won (what we now call) the Revolutionary War. George Washington, captured during a battle, awaits hanging for treason. Ben and Tom (Franklin and Jefferson) are chillin' in The Big Easy--still trying to stir up trouble while living under the protection of the Spanish-owned city.

Meanwhile, Creighton, a spoiled seventeen-year-old British lad whose father died fighting against the patriots, is kidnapped and thrown aboard a ship bound for America. His drinking and gambling have become too much of a nuisance to his mother and so he is to be delivered to her brother, Colonel Hugh Gower, a British military officer in South Carolina who will no doubt be able to extinguish that attitude problem and civilize the boy. But, shortly after his arrival in the colonies, Creighton is captured again--this time by an American privateer--and he ends up in the real boonies, amidst the remains of the revolutionary leadership.

This is a story filled with action, intrigue, suspense, and "what-if's" galore. One of the more intriguing subplots involves General (Benedict) Arnold, whom we know in "real" history to have been a traitor. Using the assumption that we're aware of that, the author (to my delight) then uses that knowledge--like a cat and a ball of yarn--to play with our minds.

My only question is why this is being sold as an "Ages 14 up"? Do they fear that younger kids will confuse history and fiction? In any case, I know of no other book so labeled that is so perfectly suited for both middle school and high school students who enjoy American history.

Now, what if...

Richie Partington

http://richiespicks.com

BudNotBuddy@aol.com