First published 1984
Tim Meeker watches his older brother Sam march off to fight the British, leaving their Connecticut family divided. Their father supports the Crown and wants no part of the war that tears through their community. Sam believes in the rebel cause and refuses to back down. Tim finds himself caught between his brother's revolutionary fervor and his father's loyalty to the established order. The family runs a tavern in Redding, where both Patriots and Loyalists stop for food and drink. As the conflict drags on, neighbors turn against neighbors. The war that seemed distant becomes personal when violence reaches their doorstep. Tim must navigate the dangerous waters of a community where choosing the wrong side can mean death. The revolution that promised freedom brings only heartbreak to the Meekers as they discover the true cost of taking sides.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, war, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Connecticut, Redding
Period: American Revolution
Paperback · Scholastic
Content warnings: violence, war