Road to Revolution! (The Cartoon Chronicles of America) - Softcover

Grade 4–6—This first installment in the series takes place in Boston, 1775, in the days leading up to the American Revolution, where two children aid the Rebel cause. Nick helps Paul Revere alert the Rebels of the British advance, Penny foils the attack on Bunker Hill, and both of them encounter Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and George Washington. Endnotes sort the fictional events from facts, but readers unfamiliar with the history may be confused. The whimsical illustrations are drawn in shaky, cartoonish scrawls, printed in full color on glossy paper. One of the book's strengths lies in the inclusion of a strong female character, and the story often comments on the limited roles available to women at the time. The portrayal of the Tories and Rebels is not terribly nuanced, however. All of the Tories are bullish, unattractive louts, in contrast to the sensitive, handsome Rebels. This is an amusing piece of historical fiction with plenty of appeal to children, but it should be read by those with some background in history, or in conjunction with a more straightforward account.—Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
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