Patriots, Redcoats and Spies (American Revolutionary War Adventures)

One of the lesser-appreciated battles between the British and American revolutionaries was the battle for information, as Washington’s Culper spy ring competed with British spymasters for crucial knowledge of troop movements, supplies, and more. So, when American spy Lamberton Clark is shot on a mission for General Washington, he entrusts his message to his young twin sons, John and Ambrose. Can the boys elude British soldiers, and deliver the message to the Continental Army in time?

Patriots, Redcoats and Spies is a young adult novel that combines Hardy Boys-style adventure with historical fact to craft an engaging read. While John and Ambrose are likable enough, the real interest is in the setting itself, which captures the tension between the British and American revolutionaries with ease. The twins’ race against time is imbued with energy and significance, keeping the tension high, even as keen historical detail slips straight from the author’s pen to the reader’s brain.

Skead ensures the book remains exciting enough that younger readers won’t lose interest (even as they’re learning about colonial life and the Revolutionary War), and includes the occasional picture to offer a break from reading. I’m curious to see where Skead takes the Clark boys next.