Welcome to Creative Kid Thursday!
I have a great book for you, loyal readers! A historical fiction novel that was written by David Slaughter, who was 14 when he started writing it.
Here is a bit about David Slaughter from his author page on Tate Books’ website:
“David Slaughter, a young author from Westerville, Ohio, began writing Tarleton’s Spy when he was fourteen.
He enjoys the flexibility of his home school and is furthering his avid interest in the details of America’s history and language with a degree from Patrick Henry College.”
To learn more, visit his author’s page HERE.
Tarleton’s Spy By David Slaughter
120 pages – ages 9+Published by: Tate Publishing on June 10, 2014
Synopsis
16-year-old Jimmy was both excited and scared.
He was leaving Britain to serve as an errand runner/message boy in the Americans’ rebellion.
He would be serving under the British General Banastre Tarleton. The Americans were rebelling for reasons that he didn’t understand.
Making friends with an American boy who was captured, Jimmy soon learns everything he needs to know.
It only confuses him about which side to fight for.
What can the lad do? It also doesn’t help that he has heard a mysterious murder plot being whispered among some of the men.
Jimmy decides to investigate the murder plot while also deciding where his loyalty lays.
Our Review
This was a great historical fiction novel written by a kid. David Slaughter was 14 when he started Tarleton’s Spy.
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres.
I also think it is a very hard genre to write in because the story has to be believable for the time/event it is set around.
I think that David did a wonderful job of writing the facts into a great fiction story.
From the title I thought that the story would be about Jimmy being a spy for/on Tarleton but really it is about the events leading up to Jimmy deciding to be a spy.
I would have liked to read about Jimmy as a spy, maybe David can write a follow-up! Jimmy was a great character who you come to like.
I understand why he feels so conflicted about who is right in the war. I think the story was good, and I would be happy to read other works by David Slaughter.
The story is completely appropriate for younger kids. Young Mr. Slaughter uses great language, and doesn’t go into great detail in the fight scenes, but adds enough action and adventure to make the story exciting.
Find Tarleton’s Spy on AMAZON HERE
Find it at Tate’s website HERE.