
Reach for this book when your teen is struggling with authority, feeling restless, or questioning where their loyalties lie. Set in an alternate 1777 where the British won the American Revolution, the story follows Creighton Brown, a rebellious teen shipped off to the Colonies by his mother to find discipline. Instead, he finds himself caught between a ruthless uncle and the growing sparks of a second rebellion. This is a powerful tool for discussing the weight of choices and the reality that parents often make difficult, even extreme, decisions out of love and concern for a child's future. It explores themes of accountability and the messy transition from childhood defiance to adult responsibility. The historical setting provides a safe distance to examine modern feelings of being misunderstood or forced into a path not of one's own choosing.
Ship battles, imprisonment, and the danger of being caught as a spy.
Early scenes involve teen drinking and gambling in 18th-century London.
Depictions of kidnapping, being struck, and public whipping of a soldier.
The book deals with parental abandonment (the mother's choice to have him kidnapped) and physical punishment (whipping of soldiers) in a direct, historical manner. The resolution is realistic and morally complex: Creighton must decide his own values rather than simply following an authority figure.
A middle or high schooler who feels at odds with parental expectations or who enjoys 'what if' scenarios. It is perfect for the student who finds traditional history dry but loves high-stakes drama.
Parents should be aware of a scene depicting the public whipping of a soldier, which establishes the harshness of the British occupation. The inciting incident involves a mother hiring men to forcibly take her son from his life and send him across the world without his consent.
Younger teens will focus on the kidnapping and the action-packed escape scenes. Older teens will better appreciate the political nuance and the moral dilemma of spying on friends for the sake of family.
Unlike most Revolutionary War fiction, this is an alternate history. It forces the reader to consider what would have happened if the 'wrong' side won, making the stakes feel fresh and unpredictable.
Creighton Brown is a spoiled, gambling teenager in London until his mother has him kidnapped and sent to the American Colonies to live with his strict uncle, Colonel Gower. In this alternate history, the British have crushed the initial rebellion. While traveling, Creighton is captured by American rebels, including Benedict Arnold, and begins to see the 'enemy' as human. He eventually finds himself in New Orleans, working for Benjamin Franklin, while being pressured by his uncle to act as a British spy.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a review