We Were There, Part 4

 

Of the four We Were There books dealing with the American Revolution, We Were There at the Battle of Lesxington and Concord (1958), by Felix Sutton, is my favorite. Of course, there's a nostalgia factor involved in that. Lexington and Concord was in my elementary school library. I read it and loved it as a second grader.

It holds up when re-reading it as an adult. As was standard with the series, the main character is a 15-year-old boy (this time named Rob Gordon) and a 13-year-old girl. Often, the two are siblings. In this case, Rob is the adopted son of a tavern keeper in Lexington (John Buckman--a real-life character) and Sary Williams is the daughter of Buckman's housekeeper. 

In one of the earlier entries on this series, I commented on how the We Were There books shied away from portraying young puppy love or crushes. Here, though, the book ends with a subtle and sweet implication that Rob and Sary might some day be married. I guess the authors weren't always worried about alienating their younger readers who might still think girls are yucky. Heck, I'm thinking that maybe I'll even stop giving myself anti-cootie shots after kissing my wife!

Anyway, the book begins with Rob and Sary sneaking a wagon-load of food into Boston, which is currently occupied by British troops following the Boston Tea Party. Before long, Rob overhears several British soldiers talking about a possible military expedition to arrest John Hancock and Sam Adams (currently hiding out in Lexington) and seizing weapons & gunpowder. 

The soldiers spot Rob, who has to lay one out with a fireplace poker before making a getaway. He and Sary barely manage to get out of Boston and warn Hancock. 

A few days later, Paul Revere makes his midnight ride to warn the Minute Men that the British are indeed coming. Rob participates in part of this ride, then he and Sary do some scouting for the Minute Men. When the Shot Heard Round the World is fired in Lexington, Rob is riding to Concord with a message. Sary, though, witnesses the battle. Afterwards, despite being horrified at the sight of dead and wounded, she pulls herself together and aids the wounded.

Rob joins the Minute Men at Concord, taking part in the charge at the Concord Bridge and participating in the exhausting day-long battle that ensues. Going into this, Rob sees the upcoming battle as a chance for glory. Instead, though he performs bravely, he learns that battle is terror, watching friends die and taking the lives of fellow human beings. 

This is what gives the book its strong backbone. The battle scenes are described vividly and with historical accuracy. The cause of liberty and the necessity of fighting for it are upheld. But the actually dirty business of fighting is not sanitized or glorified. Rob learns what war is, so when he continues to fight (joining the Continental Army at the book's conclusion) we see the bravery and determination behind that decision. 

It's still a young adult book, so the violence isn't overly graphic. But the author still brings across a sense of spilled blood and intense fear intermingled with true courage. It's a great book.