The Year Of The Hangman (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) [School & Library Binding]

Gary Blackwood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2004

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. After he is kidnapped from England and brought to the American colonies, 15-year-old Creighton must decide whether to join his new friends, the patriots, or stay true to his English heritage.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this adventurous, if somewhat unrealistic, novel, Blackwood (The Shakespeare Stealer) imagines what would have happened if the Americans lost the Revolutionary War. In 1777 (called the Year of the Hangman "because the three sevens in the date resembled the miniature gallows" and because of all the British traitors hanged), spoiled 15-year-old Creighton is taken from London by force, and sent to the Colonies to live with his uncle. But when Creighton accompanies his uncle, an unkind Englishman named Colonel Gower, to a new post in West Florida, their boat is seized by patriot privateers, led by the infamous Benedict Arnold. They bring the prisoners to the Spanish territory of New Orleans and imprison Gower, but take Creighton to live with Benjamin Franklin. Creighton agrees to spy for Gower, discovering that Franklin publishes a revolutionary paper, but his conscience begins to bother him. Not only are Franklin and his friends kind to Creighton but the lines between what is "good or bad, right or wrong" blur. A few characters seem stilted, such as Sophie, a hot-headed, French-speaking maid, and Peter, a warmhearted giant. But history buffs will recognize some clever dialogue ("It's a far more difficult thing to make up your own mind about what's right and act accordingly," Arnold tells Creighton) and the hero struggles with compelling questions, such as the meaning of honor and the value of war. Jail escapes, duels, code-breaking and more keep the story moving. Ages 14-up.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8-10-The author of The Shakespeare Stealer (Puffin, 2000) guides readers through a might-have-been America in this suspenseful alternative history set during the Revolutionary War. In Blackwood's imagined 1777, the upstart colonists have been routed by superior British forces. George Washington awaits execution and the rebel leaders who have escaped capture are in hiding or have fled. Dashing Benedict Arnold has become a privateer operating out of French-controlled New Orleans, where Benjamin Franklin runs a printing shop and distributes an illegal newspaper, The Liberty Tree. Enter 17-year-old Creighton Brown, an upper-class English wastrel who arrives in Louisiana as Arnold's captive, after an earlier abduction from London that had been arranged by his mother. Lodged with Franklin, Creighton becomes a reluctant publishing assistant, and, as he begins to admire the Americans and their principles, an even more reluctant British spy. Creighton's lazy, spoiled ways undergo a revolution of their own when he is caught between dangerous plots and counterplots and is forced to take risks that threaten more than one life. Packed with action, convincing historical speculation, and compelling portrayals of real-life and fictional characters, this page-turner will appeal to fans of both history and fantasy.
Starr E. Smith, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 272 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback (February 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613998413
• ISBN-13: 978-0613998413
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,858,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gary L. Blackwood sold his first story when he was nineteen, and has been writing and publishing stories, articles, plays, novels, and nonfiction books regularly ever since. His stage plays have won awards and been produced in university and regional theatre. Nonfiction subjects he's covered include biography, history, and paranormal phenomena. His juvenile novels, which include WILD TIMOTHY, THE DYING SUN, and THE SHAKESPEARE STEALER, are set in a wide range of times and places, from Elizabethan England to a parallel universe. Several have received special recognition and been translated into other languages. He lives near Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Year of the Hangman--A MUST Read for Middle Schoolers, November 17, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Year of the Hangman (Mass Market Paperback)

"By the winter of 1776, the American Revolution seemed doomed. The Continental Army had suffered major defeats...As we all know, Washington managed to beat the odds against him...and went on to defeat the British. But it didn't have to happen that way...This is a story of what might have happened." Gary Blackwood wrote this on page one and two of his book The Year of the Hangman. This quote sums up the entire point of the book.

The Year of the Hangman is based during the revolutionary war and explores the idea of what might have happened if Washington and the Patriots lost the war. It is a story about a boy named Creighton Brown who lives in England. His mother is concerned about Creighton's bad behavior and orders her brother to kidnapp Creighton and take him to America. During the novel Creighton meets Ben Franklin, Benedict Arnold, Peter (Arnold's body guard), Colonel Gower (Creighton's Uncle), Lieutenant Hale (Gower's body guard) and Sophie (Franklin's maid). Creighton also learns of his father's real fate and his contribution to the war.

After living with the Americans, Creighton struggles with his conscience to decide where his loyalties really lie--to the Americans or to the British.

Read The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood to find out more about this exciting alternate history novel!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History isn't that boring, December 16, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Year of the Hangman (Hardcover)

I think this is a really good book because mostly when you look at history it's boring and you don't want to know about it. I gave five stars handds down. The reason is because it shows that we shouldn't take freedom for granted. In this book a young boy named Creighton is a little piece of crap that nobody would want for a son. That's why his mom sent him to be with his uncle in the American colonies. creighton's uncle sends him to spy on Benjamin Franklin, the legendary printer, to learn about the rebels. I thought this book was put together well and I enjoyed it. An element that is represented most in this story is suspense. I kept thinking is Creighton going to get caught? I would recommend this book to people who always think What if?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review of the Hangman, November 15, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Year of the Hangman (Mass Market Paperback)

Have you ever wondered how things would be now if certain events in history had resulted in a different outcome? Gary Blackwood took this concept and turned the Revolutionary War up-side down.

In The Year of the Hangman, the British have won the Revolutionary War and they are in control of the colonies in the new world. The story follows the life of Creighton Brown, a fifteen-year-old boy who was shipped off to live in the colonies in 1777. He ends up in New Orleans with many of the Patriots, including Benjamin Franklin and Benedict Arnold. During his time there, he becomes friends with a few Patriots and learns that they have a worthy cause to fight for. After a while, he gets confused about whose side he should be on and what is the right thing to do.

This book is well-written and probably reflects what would have happened if the British had actually won the war. The book made me wonder what our life today would be like if the book were true. Would we better off? Would we have the same technology we have today? Would we have all the freedoms that we have today? It is weird to think about all this, but it is interesting to wonder about.