This is a tough, honest book about war—and it's not for everyone. Written in 1974 and earning a Newbery Honor, it deliberately subverts the patriotic Revolutionary War narrative kids usually get. Both armies are portrayed as flawed, families are torn apart, and the ending is devastating: Sam is executed by his own side for a crime he didn't commit.
The violence is real—parent reviews consistently flag the beheading scene, battlefield gore, and strong language. This isn't a book you hand to a sensitive 10-year-old. But for mature middle schoolers ready to think critically about history, it's genuinely enriching. It asks hard questions about loyalty, ideology, and whether any cause is worth tearing families apart.
The catch: it's old. The 2005 edition is just a reprint of the 1974 original, and the pacing feels dated compared to modern YA. Kids who love historical fiction will engage; reluctant readers will struggle. It's the kind of book that works better in a classroom with discussion than as a solo summer read.
If your kid can handle the violence and is ready for moral complexity, this is worthwhile. If they're looking for adventure or heroism, look elsewhere.






