This short and amusingly illustrated book tells of how
young Ariel Bradley became a spy at the behest of his
soldier brothers. Based on a true incident during the
Revolutionary War, we see a child growing up fast and doing
a man's job.
ARIEL BRADLEY, SPY FOR GENERAL WASHINGTON - the title
encapsulates the plot as young Ariel waits at home for the
return of his soldier brothers, with the scent of baking
cobbler making his mouth water. When Thaddeus and James
arrive with smart uniforms and sparkling buttons, Ariel
wants to emulate them but is too young. Next day the
brothers borrow the elderly grey mare Salt and a sack of
corn, and take Ariel on a four-day trek to meet General
Washington. Armed with his sack of corn and a rope halter,
Ariel is set up on Salt and told to ride down among the
green-clad Hessian soldiers and ask for directions to the
corn mill. If he can, he is to ride further into the enemy
encampment in wooded New York State and discover the
strength of General Howe's red-clad British army. How many
men, guns, horses, injured are in the enemy lines? Can
Ariel manage such a brave task, and if he does, can he
return with the information?
Illustrations by Joe Rossi bring the tale to colourful life
as Ariel is told to act the Johnny Raw and lose his tricorn
hat, or Salt gets to roll on the green grass. Lynda
Durrant could have added more tension but she has aimed at
the younger end of the young adult spectrum, and both girls
and boys will enjoy reading of Ariel's wit and bravery.
This may also help to bring a period in history to life for
young students. I liked this book ARIEL BRADLEY and wished
it was longer.
This book is based on a true event, the real life adventure
of nine year-old Ariel Bradley. It reveals the anxiety of
the Americans, who a battle in the first months of the
Revolutionary War. It also shows George Washington’s keen
sense of humor and his wily, perceptive view of his British
adversaries.
Ariel Bradley is Washington’s boy spy who pretends to be a
country bumpkin (a “Johnny Raw”). He ‘stumbles’ into
General Howe’s camp “looking for the mill” his father has
sent him in search of. In reality, he is assessing the
strength and numbers of the British and their Hessian
(German) allies. After he is sent on his way by the
unsuspecting English, he reports this to General Washington
and his staff. This information proves key in what became
known as the Battle of White Plains.
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