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Date Posted: 16:03:14 10/21/05 Fri
Author: Syl
Subject: The Year of the Hangman

Here's an interesting one, sent in by Peggy B. Thanks, Peggy!



TITLE: The Year of the Hangman

AUTHOR: Gary Blackwood

GENRE: Alternate History, young readers

Reading level: Age 10 and up

This novel, by the author of The Shakespeare Stealer,is a terrific read from several angles.

Set in 1777, we follow 15 year-old Creighton Brown, a youth of the English gentry who finds himself shipped to the America’s and deposited in the custody of his uncle, a British Colonel, the newly appointed Lieutenant Governor of West Florida.

In this alternate history, the Colonies are losing the battle for independence, and George Washington is imprisoned by the English. Young Creighton falls in with Benjamin Franklin and Benedict Arnold, in a position to spy for the benefit of the English.

Creighton learns much about the Patriot cause, the meaning of honor, and the dark secrets of his own family. This provides much ground for discussion with young readers: American History (separating the facts from the fiction in this book), what if the English had won the war, what you would do if you were Creighton.

I was grabbed by this book from the first few pages. And, as many of us are boning up on the Revolutionary War in anticipation of ABOSAA, the setting is timely!

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Replies:

[> So, if it is alternate history, is Benedict Arnold a good guy? Anyway, sounds like a good read. -- beccabee, 07:16:01 10/22/05 Sat


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[> [> I read this several months ago, so memory is hazy, but I believe the answer is yes. -- LadyPeggyB, 09:47:52 10/23/05 Sun


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[> Thanks, Peggy. Sounds like a great book! -- Judie, 05:25:57 10/23/05 Sun


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[> This sounds like an interesting book, but I don't know enough of the real facts to handle an alternative I think. Thats one of the really interesting things I've learnt in my time here on LOL, theres just so much I dont know! -- Margy, 12:42:08 10/25/05 Tue


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[> [> There is a section at the end of the book that clarifies where the author made historical changes. -- LadyPeggyB, 12:52:03 10/25/05 Tue


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[> [> [> Okay, that changes things. -- Margy the historically challenged, 11:35:55 10/26/05 Wed


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[> NOTE: I was just looking on Amazon, there is another book entitled "Year of the Hangman" but it appears to be a nonfiction history, subtitled: George Washington's Campaign Against The Iroquois, the author is Glenn Williams. I have NOT read this book. If you are looking for the book I reviewed here, make sure the author is: Gary Blackwood. -- LadyPeggyB, 11:41:26 10/28/05 Fri


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[> This book was enjoyable. I'll read more by this author. Don't let the fact that it is a children's book turn you away. -- Jan R., 15:18:05 01/05/06 Thu


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