The King’s Broad Arrow
1775. At thirteen years old, Sam has grown up hearing about the Broad Arrow Laws—laws that reserve all trees suitable for ship masts for the Crown and Royal Navy. His father’s sawmill business needs to trade these same trees to survive the upcoming winter. When Sam attempts to deface a tree marked by the broad arrow symbol, he’s caught and sent to a British prison ship. There he meets two men who will give him hope in the midst of terrible darkness. Sam wants to go home, but fate has other plans for him, and his journey is just beginning.
Sam constantly wrestles with courage. He believes that because he feels afraid, it makes him unworthy of fighting for his country. He also doesn’t understand why people, like his best friend, would leave their home and family to fight against seemingly insurmountable odds. While imprisoned and trying to survive unconscionably harsh conditions, he learns about moral courage, physical courage, and the scars people hide inside. From prisoner to escapee to rebel, Sam meets legends like Paul Revere, Thomas Paine, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton. Each man instills in Sam new insights on why they’re inspired to fight for freedom.
Goodwin Tone does a great job bringing the dangers of British-occupied New England to life as Sam travels from one city to the next. Sam performs numerous tasks including helping in a saw mill, making ink, using a printing press, preparing cannons in battle, etc. I enjoyed experiencing all the nuances of life in late 18th-century America. Sam grows as a character as his experiences teach him not only about courage but also purpose. An exceptionally well-researched and entertaining story that will delight readers of any age. I eagerly anticipate the sequel.
