Book Synopsis
JOE HAMILTON, thirteen, has ignored the Revolutionary War because his parents are pacifists, now even JOE is socially isolated and impoverished by that choice. All other relatives are rebel officers or town officials, including JOE’s grandfather and uncles, who control the Bear Mountain farm, the whole family's previous source of food and clothing. The always-hungry JOE searches for a kitchen job but finds rejection due to his parents’ beliefs. When JOE learns that his parents pay fines for not attending a church that preaches in favor of the Revolution, he finds it hard to believe, and yet some explanation for their poverty must exist....
Rumors of a British police action abound, but no proofs surface. JOE’s mother seems too depressed to function. JOE’S father now faces jail for his refusal to enlist with the Patriots. Worse yet, JOE’s parents want JOE to apprentice in a safer environment than Danbury, where the rebel war supplies sit stockpiled. JOE considers the idea of an escape from his family stresses, but does not want to leave estranged neighbor SARAH, forced to care for her small siblings. SARAH has not spoken to JOE in months out of rage that her new riding horse was confiscated by JOE's grandfather. SARAH is a virtual prisoner, despite her kindly father who rents to the Hamilton family.
JOE accompanies his rebel officer friend LAMBERT LOCKWOOD to the artificer camp, where he discovers a much-loved adult cousin who wants the family reunited on the Patriot side. JOE discovers SARAH’S horse at the camp, leading to a renewed friendship with her.
The British land an invasion force. The local militia leaves town, hoping to conceal their no-gunpowder status. JOE’S grandfather forces JOE’S father to join up by threatening his closest friend, SARAH’S Tory father.
When British officers try to kill JOE’s grandfather, JOE runs home without seeing the end of the story, then fears to tell his mother anything about it. Pressing her about the idea that his father is a coward extracts a story of post-traumatic stress from both the French and Indian War and a plague that killed many children in the town. JOE realizes that he understands little of adult motivations and he determines more than ever to understand present events.
SARAH’S father holds a dinner for the British generals, where JOE learns that his grandfather is safe, but discovers that LOCKWOOD has been shot. After finding his hero, JOE steals LOCKWOOD’S mare from British officers. JOE stashes the expensive horse in the family shed. Later, he decides the safest thing would be to immobilize the animal as security against it being stolen.
A British trooper's over-familiar manner frightens JOE, who fears personal harm.
LOCKWOOD, in captivity, passes the night telling JOE stories. He reveals that JOE's cousin lies dying in a nearby house. Sudden departure of the British leaves LOCKWOOD believing he is free ─ until two troopers take him prisoner again. Joe determines to rescue him by bribery, but as JOE races through the burning town, he discovers his dying cousin tied to a tree. Saving him ends the chance to save LOCKWOOD. JOE creeps home in misery.
Before dawn, JOE discovers the family shed afire, with LOCKWOOD’S horse and SARAH’S pony inside. SARAH’s father drags JOE from the flaming structure. A British deserter (the man JOE had feared) attempts to save the horses, and JOE rushes back into the flaming shed to help free them.
The next day, JOE and his mother visit the relative JOE rescued. JOE’S experience with the wounded Lockwood's sudden recovery, and his out-of-line suggestions intrigue the Danbury town lawyer, JOE’S UNCLE TAD.
JOE is offered the tavern kitchen job he wanted, but he refuses because his parents expect him to apprentice. The British deserter’s disillusionment with America causes JOE to offer him the job, the loss wrenching Joe’s anger ever higher.
An angry JOE seeks vengeance for his grandfather’s threats against JOE’S father and their cascading negative effects. JOE bargains with his grandfather about his father’s future, suggesting Patriot non-combatant jobs. His grandfather leaves Joe crying in the middle of the street, once again defeated and humiliated.
JOE and SARA meet two deserters, who tell a disjointed tale of a militia horse that kills its rider, All details point to the victim being JOE’S father, and the two return to SARAH’s home, devastated. Again, JOE says nothing about the incident, having no proof.
JOE’s father returns uninjured, and soon all in the household are called to account by the grandfather. The showdown sees JOE’s mother and SARAH’S father forced into charity work for the Patriots. JOE receives an unpaid work assignment, which he resents. The father remains virulently opposed to the revolution. JOE’S grandfather uses JOE as a pawn to extort an agreement from his father to sign a state blanket-weaving contract (JOE’s own idea to keep his father out of jail).
Left alone with his grandfather, JOE asks for a horse and meets refusal. An exhausted grandfather accidentally reveals that a detested Danbury turncoat is is really a Patriot spy who will be killed if his identity is openly known. A battle of wits ensues as Joe drives a hard bargain about keeping the secret.
In the final scene, JOE’S grandfather asks Joe to tell his father that the grandmother is dying ─ a lie that he trusts will bring the father back to the family farm.
JOE, now alone, debates telling this final horrendous lie, which could shred his father’s self-respect even as it unites the family back at the farm. JOE understands that his parents and SARAH’S father have sold out their core beliefs in the name of responsibility for others. JOE now has responsibility for his debilitated animal and to support his mother in her work and SARAH in her housebound life.
JOE prepares his script and opens the door.
Rumors of a British police action abound, but no proofs surface. JOE’s mother seems too depressed to function. JOE’S father now faces jail for his refusal to enlist with the Patriots. Worse yet, JOE’s parents want JOE to apprentice in a safer environment than Danbury, where the rebel war supplies sit stockpiled. JOE considers the idea of an escape from his family stresses, but does not want to leave estranged neighbor SARAH, forced to care for her small siblings. SARAH has not spoken to JOE in months out of rage that her new riding horse was confiscated by JOE's grandfather. SARAH is a virtual prisoner, despite her kindly father who rents to the Hamilton family.
JOE accompanies his rebel officer friend LAMBERT LOCKWOOD to the artificer camp, where he discovers a much-loved adult cousin who wants the family reunited on the Patriot side. JOE discovers SARAH’S horse at the camp, leading to a renewed friendship with her.
The British land an invasion force. The local militia leaves town, hoping to conceal their no-gunpowder status. JOE’S grandfather forces JOE’S father to join up by threatening his closest friend, SARAH’S Tory father.
When British officers try to kill JOE’s grandfather, JOE runs home without seeing the end of the story, then fears to tell his mother anything about it. Pressing her about the idea that his father is a coward extracts a story of post-traumatic stress from both the French and Indian War and a plague that killed many children in the town. JOE realizes that he understands little of adult motivations and he determines more than ever to understand present events.
SARAH’S father holds a dinner for the British generals, where JOE learns that his grandfather is safe, but discovers that LOCKWOOD has been shot. After finding his hero, JOE steals LOCKWOOD’S mare from British officers. JOE stashes the expensive horse in the family shed. Later, he decides the safest thing would be to immobilize the animal as security against it being stolen.
A British trooper's over-familiar manner frightens JOE, who fears personal harm.
LOCKWOOD, in captivity, passes the night telling JOE stories. He reveals that JOE's cousin lies dying in a nearby house. Sudden departure of the British leaves LOCKWOOD believing he is free ─ until two troopers take him prisoner again. Joe determines to rescue him by bribery, but as JOE races through the burning town, he discovers his dying cousin tied to a tree. Saving him ends the chance to save LOCKWOOD. JOE creeps home in misery.
Before dawn, JOE discovers the family shed afire, with LOCKWOOD’S horse and SARAH’S pony inside. SARAH’s father drags JOE from the flaming structure. A British deserter (the man JOE had feared) attempts to save the horses, and JOE rushes back into the flaming shed to help free them.
The next day, JOE and his mother visit the relative JOE rescued. JOE’S experience with the wounded Lockwood's sudden recovery, and his out-of-line suggestions intrigue the Danbury town lawyer, JOE’S UNCLE TAD.
JOE is offered the tavern kitchen job he wanted, but he refuses because his parents expect him to apprentice. The British deserter’s disillusionment with America causes JOE to offer him the job, the loss wrenching Joe’s anger ever higher.
An angry JOE seeks vengeance for his grandfather’s threats against JOE’S father and their cascading negative effects. JOE bargains with his grandfather about his father’s future, suggesting Patriot non-combatant jobs. His grandfather leaves Joe crying in the middle of the street, once again defeated and humiliated.
JOE and SARA meet two deserters, who tell a disjointed tale of a militia horse that kills its rider, All details point to the victim being JOE’S father, and the two return to SARAH’s home, devastated. Again, JOE says nothing about the incident, having no proof.
JOE’s father returns uninjured, and soon all in the household are called to account by the grandfather. The showdown sees JOE’s mother and SARAH’S father forced into charity work for the Patriots. JOE receives an unpaid work assignment, which he resents. The father remains virulently opposed to the revolution. JOE’S grandfather uses JOE as a pawn to extort an agreement from his father to sign a state blanket-weaving contract (JOE’s own idea to keep his father out of jail).
Left alone with his grandfather, JOE asks for a horse and meets refusal. An exhausted grandfather accidentally reveals that a detested Danbury turncoat is is really a Patriot spy who will be killed if his identity is openly known. A battle of wits ensues as Joe drives a hard bargain about keeping the secret.
In the final scene, JOE’S grandfather asks Joe to tell his father that the grandmother is dying ─ a lie that he trusts will bring the father back to the family farm.
JOE, now alone, debates telling this final horrendous lie, which could shred his father’s self-respect even as it unites the family back at the farm. JOE understands that his parents and SARAH’S father have sold out their core beliefs in the name of responsibility for others. JOE now has responsibility for his debilitated animal and to support his mother in her work and SARAH in her housebound life.
JOE prepares his script and opens the door.
