I've been enjoying the books in this series very much indeed, and picked up this hardcover at a local Barnes and Noble. It's the first in the series, and features a biography of young Revolutionary War spy and patriot Nathan Hale, with details about some of the early battles in the war. (It also includes the origin-story of Hale-as-narrator, explaining why Nathan gets to stand on his own gallows telling tales from history to his hangman and the British provost; seems he was swallowed by a giant history book just before he was due to be hanged, and came out again with an encyclopedic knowledge of history!)

There's a good biography of Hale, to the degree that his history is known - with some fiddling of details, explained at the end in the cute "correction baby" section at the end. (Example: while Henry Knox and Nathan Hale did serve in the same place at the same time, it seems that it was the author's decision to make them friends - as he put it, "Well, they could have been, right?")

There's plenty of info about the Revolutionary War - the early years, anyway - and an up-close look at the battle of Bunker Hill (and Breeds Hill too), with its local interest for us greater-Boston-area folk. I admit that knowing the lie of the land surrounding Bunker Hill made that part of the story all the more immediate for me.

The account of the capture of Fort Ticonderoga (my favorite fort-name ever; I love the way it rolls off of the tongue) and the transport of most of its heavy guns to Boston is just one of many daring episodes here. And while Hale didn't have a major role in that incident, he does do some daring deeds - up until he's nabbed as a spy almost as soon as he sets out...

It's sobering to be reminded that he was only 21 when he died. [I rather wish he had a scene with Major Andre, another personable young man hanged as a spy - but for the other side. Wonder what they'd have made of each other?]

The storytelling is a mix of history, personality, and various kinds of humor - snarky remarks from the audience, sarcasm from Hale himself, puns, running jokes such as the hangman's soft heart over animals... Lots of fun!

[Crispus Attucks gets a story of his own, regarding the Boston Massacre - he's considered the first American casualty - and he and Nathan Hale ham it up with "martyr" puns ("What's a martyr?" "Nothing, what's a-martyr with you?") before getting to the gist of the event. I include that as a reminder that while this book contains a lot of often-dark historical bits, it's also very punny.]

I plan to leave this book near one of the many sculptures on the grounds of the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum at around 2:30 or so; hope the finder enjoys it!

[If the finders are up for it, I'd like to see this book visit the various statues of Nathan Hale around the region, with photos. Visits to significant Hale-related sites would also be very cool!]

Later: Left as planned, bagged against the elements, near the "Three Lines" mobile sculpture by the museum.

*** Released as part of the 2015 Spook-tacular release challenge. ***

*** Released as part of the 2015 TICK TOCK release challenge. ***