Loyalty

Avi’s (Gold Rush Girl) story centers 13-year-old Noah Cope during the two years leading up to the American Revolution, tracing the steady unraveling of the boy’s devotion to his white family’s Loyalist stance as he witnesses—and experiences—events that begin to challenge his beliefs about England and the Sons of Liberty. When Noah’s pastor father is brutally tarred for proclaiming his loyalty to the British crown, the frightened Cope family leaves their small Massachusetts town for Boston. There, Noah, determined to avenge his father’s death, begins spying for the British army, posing as a worker in a tavern frequented by the Sons of Liberty. His boss, Jolla, is a free Black man who encourages Noah to question everything and think for himself, and the two slowly build a friendship in increasingly precarious conditions. Avi makes history immediate and accessible through Noah’s heartfelt voice, though conversations between Jolla and Noah, which address issues of slavery and freedom during that era, unfortunately perpetuate the idea that marginalized people are responsible for educating more privileged people about injustice. An author’s note discusses continuing controversy surrounding terms such as loyalty, patriots, and traitors. Ages 10–12. Agent: Gail Hochman, Brandt & Hochman. (Feb.)