Loyalty {Review}

 

From Newberry Medalist, Avi, Loyalty follows the emotional journey of Noah Cope, whose father is killed by rebel patriots and whose family must flee to Boston in the aftermath.  Determined to avenge his father's death, Noah turns to spying for the British, putting himself in a precarious situation.  It is during this back and forth interaction with both British soldier and American patriots that Noah realizes everything is not as it appears, and he must lean on his relationships to discover who he truly is.

Set using the American Revolution, Loyalty is a coming of age story.  When we first Noah, he's a young 13 year old trying to cope with his father's death.  He's naive and determined to do anything he can to make his father proud.  Throughout the two year span of this novel, we see Noah grow and as his mother challenges, think for himself.  This is the story of a young man who must navigate what he sees and hears, along with what he knows about his friend a young Black freeman.  Where do Noah's loyalties lie in a volital time in history?

I read this book with my 10 and 14 year olds.  We shared this one as a family read aloud and I was glad I didn't just hand it off to either of them.  The challenging thing about Loyalty is that it mirrors real life.  Characters are complex.  Situations are complex.  And the reader is often left with a feeling of standing on shaky ground.  Historical figures are examined from multiple angles, both in relation to politics, loyalties, and stance on slavery.  It's often times hard to discern good guys from bad guys.

I would recommend this book with a few caveat... read it with your children... discuss it with your children... talk about the complexities of human nature.  This was a tough read at times because it really was difficult to discern where Noah's loyalties should lie.  Also be aware that there are a handful of very graphic scenes.  The opening where Noah's father is killed is particularly difficult to read and I censored it as we read aloud.  I would definitely not categorize this as a middle grade book.  At best, this book is geared toward the high school years, but again with discussion and guidance by parents.  Loyalty is a unique look at the American Revolution, but not without its challenges.   

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.