Sons of Liberty [Paperback]

Adele Griffin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1998 | Grade Level: 5 and up

When thirteen-year-old Rock helps his friend Liza run away from home, he wonders whether escaping from his own troubled family would be an act of patriotism or of treason.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A seventh-grader is torn by his conflicting feelings for his abusive father. PW's starred review of this National Book Award nominee said, "Griffin's pointedly jarring dialogue and keen ear for adolescent jargon have a magnetic quality few readers will be able to resist." Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-8. The Kindle family?abusive, manipulative Dad; agoraphobic Mom; sons Rock and Cliff; and little sister Brontie?live in a rundown summer cottage where Dad can keep them relatively isolated as they try to cope with his tantrums and hostility. Cliff seems to have some understanding of what is going on, while Rock attempts to bury his "disloyal" thoughts in his obsession with the American Revolution. When the boys' friend Liza, herself the victim of an abusive stepfather, has finally had enough, the brothers help her run away to New Haven, where she disappears. Cliff works with his mother to help her overcome her fear so that she can drive the car when they are ready to escape their situation. Clueless adults abound in this depressing mix of angst and abuse. Rock verbally lashes out at his mother as his sense of frustration and despair grows. Readers are given to believe that her anguish over Rock's contempt provides her with the impetus she needs to confront her problem and overcome it in a remarkably brief time. Chapter titles such as "The Sugar Act," "Without Representation," and "Midnight Ride" attempt to relate the brothers' situation to that of the historical Sons of Liberty. Rock is the focus of the story, but it's difficult to feel any sympathy for him; his vacillation at the end of the book over whether to stay or run is simply annoying, not climactic. This book has neither drama nor insight to offer in exchange for readers' time.?Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (September 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786813008
• ISBN-13: 978-0786813001
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,328,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Look for All You Never Wanted (Random House) coming out in 2012.

Also Tighter is out this spring in paperback. With a really awesome new jacket.

And, if you're still interested, check out www.tighterthebook.com

You can find me on twitter, facebook, or on the web at www.adelegriffin.com.

Drop me a note and I promise to answer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What an amazing book!, July 7, 1999

By 

Lydia Smith (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sons of Liberty (Paperback)

As a middle school teacher, I am constantly searching for books like Sons of Liberty. Adele Griffin writes about themes that will grab a seventh grader and she does so with careful attention to each sentence. Not once does Ms. Griffin try to pull a weak sentence over her young audience's eyes.

For teachers interested in this book, Sons of Liberty would fit nicely into a psychology unit or into a unit dealing with the start of the American Revolution.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sons of Liberty, June 21, 2005

By 

A Teacher - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sons of Liberty (Paperback)

This book was okay. As an adult, I was able to grasp the meanings, but the author did not go very deep into the details of the story line. I constatly felt like I wanted more information, but the author was just skimming the surface. It also seemed like this book was a little longer than it needed to be. I am not sure that I would recomend it for my students.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Inspiring Book, December 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sons of Liberty (Paperback)

Adele Griffin has a true gift. This novel just grabs you by the collar and pulls you in. Her dialogue is truly inspired. One of the best children's/young adult books I have read in a long time!