Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales Book Series – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales Book Series

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2017

94%

WISE Score

4.9

Amazon

History that doesn't suck, featuring a spy about to be hanged, a confused hangman, and enough gore to keep a 10-year-old from checking their phone.

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales Book Series

book

2017

94%

WISE Score

4.9

Amazon

History that doesn't suck, featuring a spy about to be hanged, a confused hangman, and enough gore to keep a 10-year-old from checking their phone.

4.9

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Screenwise Verdict

This series is the ultimate antidote to the 'history is boring' epidemic. Nathan Hale (the author) uses a clever framing device where the historical Nathan Hale stalls his own execution by telling stories of the future to a dim-witted hangman and a stuffy British officer. It’s witty, visually dense, and never talks down to its audience.

While it’s technically 'educational,' it feels more like a binge-worthy action comic. If you have a kid who refuses to pick up a book unless it has pictures of explosions or weird facts about the Revolutionary War, this is your silver bullet. Just be prepared for them to start correcting your historical inaccuracies at the dinner table.

Age Fit

Perfect for the 8-13 crowd. It hits that sweet spot where they want 'edgy' content but still benefit from the educational guardrails. Adults will secretly enjoy reading these over their kid's shoulder.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It handles heavy historical truths with a balance of humor and respect. It doesn't shy away from the 'grim' parts of history but uses them to build a real understanding of human resilience and sacrifice.

Imaginative

The framing device—Nathan Hale stalling his execution by telling stories of the future—is a brilliant meta-narrative. The visual storytelling makes complex military tactics and political treaties easy to visualize.

Safe

It’s safe in the sense that it’s factual, but 'Hazardous' is in the title for a reason. There is blood, depictions of war, and the reality of execution. It's fine for the target age, but sensitive kids might find the WWI or slavery themes intense.

Enriching

This is top-tier educational content. It turns 'boring' history into a page-turner. Kids walk away with a deep, nuanced understanding of specific eras that most adults don't even have.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The 'Stealth Learning' effect is real; they'll know more about Ironclad ships and trench warfare than you do by next Tuesday.
The graphic novel format is a total lifesaver for kids who treat prose books like a chore.
It doesn't sugarcoat the past, which actually makes kids respect the material more than a sanitized textbook.
The humor is genuinely sharp, leaning into the weird, gross, and absurd reality of how humans used to behave.

⚠

What to Watch For

It’s called 'Hazardous' for a reason—expect some blood, bayonets, and the occasional execution (it is history, after all).
The 'Underground Abductor' volume covers slavery with necessary honesty, which can be heavy for younger or more sensitive readers.

Conversation Starters

"If you were a spy like Nathan Hale, what’s the one thing you’d definitely mess up?"
"Why do you think people in history made such weird decisions, like the ones in the WWI book?"
"Which of these historical figures actually seemed like someone you'd want to hang out with in real life?"

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