Ariel Bradley, a Spy for General Washington is a fast read of 50 story pages. I do not know why Ariel’s contribution to the Revolutionary War is not taught in schools, considering his Johnny Raw was the driving force behind Washington’s victory in the Battle of White Plains. That aside, I loved ... more

Ariel Bradley, a Spy for General Washington is a fast read of 50 story pages. I do not know why Ariel’s contribution to the Revolutionary War is not taught in schools, considering his Johnny Raw was the driving force behind Washington’s victory in the Battle of White Plains. That aside, I loved the story of this brave young boy. Mostly, this is a straightforward story of one young boy’s adventure. Boys will like this story, as will teachers. . The illustrations have an old-fashioned feel to them in both the color and the art. The oranges and browns give the illustrations a rustic look of the past. General Howe looks stern with his squinty eyes and with brows that turn toward his nose at a steep angle. In contrast, General Washington looks stately in his bluish coat. His open eyes are guarded by softly laying brows. Washington’s red nose looks cold, as does Ariel’s. Ariel’s green eyes, red and swollen from tears and old Salt’s limping, groaning, and coughing make them both look helpless and lost—the perfect Johnny Raw. I cannot image walking 70 miles across fields, and who knows what else, to get from one town to another, but this is what Ariel and his two older brothers did. It took them four days to walk from home to General Washington’s small house on Chatterton Hill. Though short, the story of a young boy’s journey for one of this country’s largest and most powerful men is intriguing. I hated history in school. Had I used texts with stories like this in them, American history might have been more interested. Teachers, take a look at Ariel Bradley, a Spy for General Washington, your students will find history more interesting after reading this story of a courageous nine-year-old boy. Reluctant readers will enjoy this nine chapter story, based on a true event. In the back is a glossary of the terms used in 1776 and a little more about the real Ariel Bradley. . Vanita Books are known for their philanthropy. The net profits from Ariel Bradley, a Spy for General Washington will be donated to Fisher House. Fisher House is a not-for-profit organization that builds "comfort homes" near campuses of major military hospitals and VA hospitals. These homes help families remain near their injured loved one--an American War Hero--by giving them a free place to live. originally published at Kid Lit Reviews link:http://www.amazon.com/Ariel-Bradley-Spy-General-Washington/dp/0983290490/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381691412&sr=1-1&keywords=ariel+bradley+spy+for+general+washington