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Historical Fantasy
Historical fantasy and adventure set during the American War of Independence.
George Washington and the Continental Army have more than the forces of George III to contend with. They also face danger from robotised monsters fifty feet high which appear in New York Harbour, in the forests and actually fly over the heads of the members of the Continental Congress in Independence Hall in Philadelphia. But Washington is able to call on the services of the Masked Patriot to defeat these monsters.
This is Jonathan Hodge, a boy from a farm near Concord. When he was six years old Jonathan nearly drowned in a lake but he was rescued by a guardian angel and was given special powers. But he was to use these powers only to defeat evil.
When the War of Independence breaks out Jonathan goes with his uncle to join the Continental Army. His uncle is an aide and confidant to George Washington himself. One day Jonathan intercepts a musket ball intended for Washington –– and his secret is out. But Washington determines that no one else shall know and says that Jonathan should wear a mask when fighting the monsters. And so Jonathan becomes the Masked Patriot of the colonies.
The action ranges from the farm near Concord, the Continental Army and even across the Atlantic where Jonathan finally discovers the mystery of the medallions round the monsters’ necks. As his uncle is aide to Washington, this means that Washington plays a prominent role in the story. There is a description of the reading of the Declaration of Independence and the horrors of Valley Forge are vividly portrayed.
Franklin DeWitt says that he wrote this book to combine his own love of history with a Super Hero to attract a young adult audience. In this case I think it unfortunate that the book does not contain historical notes. I feel that the target readers would need more explained to them. For example Paul Revere appears briefly in the book and it is brought out that he was a silversmith. He is congratulated on his famous ride but no more is said about it. But will the young readers this book is aimed at know about Paul Revere? Sadly I feel that that is something we can no longer take for granted.
I also feel that for the targeted readership this book would have worked better as a graphic book. There a Superman-like character flying to defeat the monsters would have very real possibilities for both reluctant readers and also for reluctant historians.
This book is certainly not for the traditionalists but it is a courageous attempt to bring history alive for a generation reared on fantasy. Let us all hope that it succeeds.
10+
Historical fantasy. Set in a small fishing village on the Bay of Fundy in August 1886.
Fifteen-year-old Elliott Craven arrives in Sporeville with his father. Elliott is feeling very disgruntled. His father has come to be the new doctor in Sporeville. Elliott wonders why he left a much better position in Kingston on Lake Ontario. This means that Elliott has had to leave his home and his best friend. When arriving they lose their way in the dark and spend their first night with the family DeLoup who live in an old fort on a ridge overlooking Sporeville. Elliott becomes friendly with the elder daughter, Paisley.
Elliott soon discovers that there is something very strange about Sporeville. There are far more new graves in the cemetery –– and more injuries among the people of the village –– than there should be. Once settled in the doctor’s house Elliott’s father gives him a present of a telescope to help to make up for dragging him to Sporeville. That night Elliott goes up to the roof to try it out. He sees people walking as if in a trance. And they are all flocking in the direction of the lighthouse. Worse still, Elliott’s own father joins them.
What is going on? Elliott’s new friend Paisley has also seen the nightly wanderings and she is also eager to learn more. Together they work to solve the mystery. They discover the truth about the evil scientist Professor Strange and put themselves in great danger. The ending paves the way for the next book in the series.
The author captures something of the ambience of the time. There are the descriptions of the gaslights, the uncomfortable ride in the coach, the details of the working of an early camera to give just a few examples. But more historical detail could have been given. At the end the famous detective agency, Pinkertons, is mentioned casually as if the reader is expected to know all about it. More important, Professor Strange once tortured prisoners and practised his science at the Civil War prisoner-of-war camp, Andersonville. But this could also have been developed. This book definitely needs some historical notes but there are none.
That is not quite true. There are historical notes –– masses of them –– but they are not in the book itself but on an accompanying website. These notes are fascinating and show the vast amount of research behind this book. Particularly interesting is the large section on nineteenth medecine.
This seems to be something of a new trend. Many publishers are banishing historical notes from books but, instead, authors are starting to put them on accompanying websites.
Sporeville is an exciting, well written, fast paced story which captures the atmosphere of the times. There are also some deep ideas about the theory of eugenics. But the book should be read in conjunction with the accompanying website.
Young adult
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