Loyalty

by Avi (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

Newbery Medalist Avi explores the American Revolution from a fresh perspective in the story of a young Loyalist turned British spy navigating patriotism and personal responsibility during the lead-up to the War of Independence.

When his father is killed by rebel vigilantes, Noah flees with his family to Boston. Intent on avenging his father, Noah becomes a spy for the British and firsthand witness to the power of partisan rumor to distort facts, the hypocrisy of men who demand freedom while enslaving others, and the human connections that bind people together regardless of stated allegiances. Awash in contradictory information and participating in key events leading to the American Revolution, Noah must forge his own understanding of right and wrong and determine for himself where his loyalty truly lies.

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Publishers Weekly

Avi's (Gold Rush Girl) story centers 13-year-old Noah Cope during the two years leading up to the American Revolution, tracing the steady unraveling of the boy's devotion to his white family's Loyalist stance as he witnesses--and experiences--events that begin to challenge his beliefs about England and the Sons of Liberty. When Noah's pastor father is brutally tarred for proclaiming his loyalty to the British crown, the frightened Cope family leaves their small Massachusetts town for Boston. There, Noah, determined to avenge his father's death, begins spying for the British army, posing as a worker in a tavern frequented by the Sons of Liberty. His boss, Jolla, is a free Black man who encourages Noah to question everything and think for himself, and the two slowly build a friendship in increasingly precarious conditions. Avi makes history immediate and accessible through Noah's heartfelt voice, though conversations between Jolla and Noah, which address issues of slavery and freedom during that era, unfortunately perpetuate the idea that marginalized people are responsible for educating more privileged people about injustice. An author's note discusses continuing controversy surrounding terms such as loyalty, patriots, and traitors. Ages 10-12. Agent: Gail Hochman, Brandt & Hochman. (Feb.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 4-7--In 1774, Massachusetts was central to rising tensions between the Colonies and Britain. Thirteen-year-old Noah's family supports the King, but a friend's betrayal causes the family to be driven from their home after members of the Sons of Liberty beat Noah and tar and feather his father. It's no wonder then that once Noah, his mother, and sisters flee to Boston, the teen becomes a spy for the British. Noah's commitment to the Loyalist cause wavers as he sees hypocrisy and tyranny on both sides. His Black friend Jolla raises white Noah's awareness of British and American commitment to slavery. As Noah struggles to determine where his loyalty lies, his mother's words "think for yourself" guide him and will resonate with readers. While Noah witnesses the famous "shot heard round the world" at Lexington, the book is less about combat than the issues that stoke the fires of conflict, many of which are relevant today. His involvement in another historical event demonstrates that rapid-fire spread of inaccurate news is not a recent development. Avi paints a vivid portrait of the pubs, streets, and coastline of colonial Boston, fraught with danger due to rising tensions among the citizens. Noah's fate is left unresolved, suggesting there are no easy answers when choosing between right and wrong, but he is prepared to make his own decisions with confidence. VERDICT A fascinating, complex and rarely seen view of the American Revolutionary War; a first purchase.--Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem P.L., Holbrook, NY

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

[A] novel that challenges [young readers'] ideas of American history and their notions of loyalty and patriotism. (Alan Gratz)—New York Times Book Review
Avi
Avi's many acclaimed books for young readers include the Newbery Medal-winning Crispin: The Cross of Lead and the Newbery Honor books Nothing but the Truth: A Documentary Novel and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle as well as The Secret School and The End of the Beginning. He lives in Colorado.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780358672531
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Clarion Books
Publication date
June 20, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV005000 - Juvenile Fiction | Boys & Men
JUV039220 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Values & Virtues
JUV016120 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | United States - Colonial & Revolutionary Periods
JUV076000 - Juvenile Fiction | Spies & Spying
Library of Congress categories
History
United States
Spy fiction
Historical fiction
Boston (Mass.)
Spy stories
Revolution, 1775-1783

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