This graphic novel tells the story of the American Revolution through the eyes of two ctional feisty teens who encounter danger and real heroes at the time of our country’s founding

Very mixed on this graphic novel. I understand that the audience is meant more for 4 and 5 grade than anything higher, but even then some of the writing is hokey, looking to point out some interesting -but poorly timed- historical fact. I also questioned putting some of the most interesting information in the back of the book when it could have come between chapters. ( )

Susan says: This is an unusual combination of graphic novel and history. Mack and Champlin have taken the story of the patriots and all of the ordinary people who became revolutionaries and introduced some young people (representative of the people who were really there) and created more of a comic book than a real graphic novel. The art is more cartoony than graphic, but it still does a good job of keeping the high points of the action historically accurate. At the end of the novel there is a nice discussion of what is fact and fiction in the book. I think this book does a good job of explaining some of history through the lens of one family's contribution to the revolution. I wonder if kids will pick this up on the graphic novel shelves - I will have to watch and see what happens. ( )

The Road to Revolution! is the first in series of graphic novels, titled The Cartoon Chronicles of America, featuring fictional characters interacting within the specifics of American history.

Nick is a street-smart orphan-boy. Penny’s the indefatigable daughter of a Boston tavern owner. The British are everywhere, exerting their power over the colonists. Very quickly Nick and Penny are thrown into the heat of the action building up to the start of the Revolutionary War. The Old North Church lanterns, the midnight ride, the Battle at Bunker Hill as well as numerous American revolutionaries stumble through the fast-paced story. As Nick and Penny witness the revolution unfold, readers learn key information about this time in American history without the didactic feel of a textbook or even a nonfiction account.

The Road to Revolution! is an excellent addition for both classroom and elementary libraries serving students in grades 3-6 and is especially beneficial for reluctant readers or for use during units of study involving the American Revolution.

Author quote from Publisher’s Weekly: “…These stories will be straight, juicy adventure stories. The history will be solid but young readers won’t need to know the history to enjoy the books.” … And while all the books in the series will feature a young boy and girl, Mack emphasized that the girl will have an equal role in the narrative….”

This title will be released on July 21, 2009.
Review first published on Reading Rumpus ( )