Figley, Marty Rhodes and Tourville, Amanda Doering. The prison-ship adventure of James Forten, Revolutionary War captive. Illustrated by Ted Hammond and Richard Carbajal. Minneapolis: Graphic Universe, 2011. ISBN: 978-0761370758.
Author Website: http://martyrhodesfigley.com/
Illustrator Website: http://www.tedhammond.com/
Media: Pen and Colored Ink
Use of Onomatopoeia: (p. 4) “BOOM!”, (p. 16-17) “Crack, Crack”
Special Notations: 2011 Copyright Date
Curricular Connection: 5th Grade History/ Social Studies, California State Board of Education Standards, 5.6: Students understand the course and consequences of the American Revolution: 7. Understand how the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence changed the way people viewed slavery.
Annotation: Swept away by the magnitude of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, young James Forten signs on to fight the British. Forten is captured by the British and fears he will be enslaved.
Personal Reaction: Young James Forten is in Philadelphia the day that the Declaration of Independence is signed. Forten, the grandson of slaves, is overwhelmed with loyalty for his new country and signs up to help win the War for Independence against Great Britain. James is captured and taken prisoner on a British ship. Through James’ eyes, readers see how prisoners are mistreated, starved, traded for other prisoners and enslaved. James fears enslavement will be his fate until a chance meeting with a British ship captain’s son and a game of marbles changes his luck. This book is one of about a dozen in the History’s Kid Heroes series and is an appealing way for students to learn about history. Fifth graders studying the American Revolution may identify with this first person tale based on a real person. The graphic novel format is fresh and engaging for today’s students and would be an accessible supplement to the classroom textbook. The narrative is brief, but packed with allusions to slavery, the Declaration of Independence and the concept of freedom. The author provides a bibliography of recommended reading at the back of the book.
