The Road to Revolution! (The Cartoon Chronicles of America) by Stan Mack and Susan Champlin, illustrated by Stan Mack Ages 9-12 128 pages Bloomsbury USA July 2009 Paperback     The Road to Revolution! is the first installment in the new “Cartoon Chronicles of America” series. The year is 1775, and British soldiers have control over the city of Boston. The colonists rebel with the help of two young patriots. Nick, a lowly street urchin, and Penny, the daughter of a local tavern owner, form an unlikely friendship and outsmart the British to save their own hides. It isn’t long before this dynamic duo put their talents to the test for the cause. This graphic novel/comic book immediately drops the reader into the thick of colonial Boston, giving a realistic experience of the times. As Nick’s loyalty gives him purpose and Penny’s patriotism grows, these two fictional characters lives are cleverly woven into actual historic events. Relive the lighting of the lamps in the Old North Church and experience Paul Revere’s ride with Nick. Feel the danger of detection as Penny poses as a scullery maid while spying on the British brass. Seasoned cartoonist Stan Mack and writer, Susan Champlin team up in this sure-fire historical hit. Although historians might scoff at some of the creative license taken (the language is not accurate for the time period, for example), children will walk away with a sense of having been there along with a deeper understanding of American history. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”     web reviews   Niki Masse Schoenfeldt/2010 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)