The Fighting Ground 25th Anniversary Edition [Paperback]

Avi (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

April 3, 1778

He may be just thirteen, but Jonathan knows he's ready to go to the war against the British. He can handle a gun. He yearns to battle for glory, just like his brother and cousin.

So when Jonathan hears the tavern bell toll, calling men to fight, he runs to join them. He doesn't realize that in just twenty-four hours, his life will be forever altered -- by the war, by his fellow soldiers, and by the terrible choices he must make.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The compelling story of a young boy's first encounter with war and how it changes him. Ages 9-up.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Convincingly portrays Jonathan's passage from naive boy to young man." -- -- H.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st ed edition (December 16, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064401855
• ISBN-13: 978-0064401852
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (92 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Military & Wars
  • #26 in Books > Children's Books > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Military & Wars
  • #44 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > History & Historical Fiction > Historical Fiction

More About the Author

Avi has published more than sixty books. Among them is Crispin: The Cross of Lead, winner of the 2003 Newbery Medal. Other novels with nineteenth-century settings, like The Traitors' Gate -- his grand nod to the work of Charles Dickens -- are listed before the title page, and include the Newbery Honor Book, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Avi and his family live in Denver, Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for children!!!, November 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Fighting Ground 25th Anniversary Edition (Paperback)

I have read this book for three years now with my fifth grade students. Every student has loved this book, many said it was the best book they ever read. The book makes war more real to my students by telling the story through the eyes of a child their own age. I feel the book is masterfully written, and contains a strong main character. There is an abundance of profanity used throughout this book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Awesome!!!!!, June 16, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Fighting Ground 25th Anniversary Edition (Paperback)

The Fighting Ground by Avi is an awesome book. It went by minute by minute and always had you on the edge of your seat. It is very discriptive and easy to picture, it was like watching a movie in your mind. This is my first Avi book and definitely not my last. Anybody that would give this a bad review must have been reding another book.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Fighting Ground, March 22, 2006

By 

Class 15 (San Anselmo) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fighting Ground 25th Anniversary Edition (Paperback)

The Fighting Ground is a great book about a 15 years old boy named Jonathan who lived in Trenton, New Jersey. This book is set during the American Revolutionary war. America was fighting for its independence from England.
Jonathan is the only boy in his family who had not gone to war so he was waiting for his turn to go to war. Then one day, the bell rang at the Tavern and Jonathan went to go see what was happening. A Corporal was at the Tavern recruiting men to fight the Hessians (German Mercenaries serving for the British in the Revolution). The men of the town thought Jonathan was too young, but the Corporal took him any way. So Jonathan was on his way to war, the one thing he was dreaming of doing for almost half of his life.
This was a really good book with a sad middle and an exiting climax. If I could read this book a million and one more times I would. The detail in the book was exciting and I encourage every one to read The Fighting Ground.