Thomas F. (hardtack) -
A short, but interesting, novel about a young boy in Boston in the few years before the Revolutionary War began. There are interesting scenes of patriotic and British spies, food shortages, fights between British soldiers and the town's populace, as well as the ordinary events of every day life. As such, it is a excellent introduction to what life was like then.
Two small historic problems .... These were in the final chapter. One, relating to the riders warning the Minute Men about the British march to Lexington, has Paul Revere and others crying "The British are coming," when they actually cried "The regulars are out." The second has the author saying British General Howe told his men, "Don't fire until you see the white of their eyes," as they attacked Bunker Hill (Breed's Hill). Actually, it was a Colonial leader who told his men that as the British regulars came within musket range. How the author made that mistake is beyond me, as that is a well-known part of history.
Two small historic problems .... These were in the final chapter. One, relating to the riders warning the Minute Men about the British march to Lexington, has Paul Revere and others crying "The British are coming," when they actually cried "The regulars are out." The second has the author saying British General Howe told his men, "Don't fire until you see the white of their eyes," as they attacked Bunker Hill (Breed's Hill). Actually, it was a Colonial leader who told his men that as the British regulars came within musket range. How the author made that mistake is beyond me, as that is a well-known part of history.
