- Beginning with the hanging of a traitor, we are guided through the life of Benedict Arnold, beginning with this tumultuous childhood, which included the death of sisters and his father’s decline as a merchant and increasing debt. Arnold eventually joins the military and then the New Haven Militia when Britain begins taxation without representation. He becomes a colonel, helps capture Ticonderoga, but isn’t given the credit due. His next journey leads him to try and conquer Quebec. The journey through the wilderness fails initially, but he holds up in a blockade and is promoted to General by Washington. He continues to fight for America, but when his successes are again not recognized, he forms a pact with John Andre to surrender Fort West Point to the British. Their plan is discovered, Andre is hung, and Arnold flees to London.
- Textbook: Sheinkin’s writing background includes textbook writing and fact checking, giving him the credibility to write a nonfiction story about Benedict Arnold. His focus is on telling the true story of Benedict Arnold, but in a way that engages young people to read about history. This text is divided by time periods and the people who cross Arnold’s path as he moves from American hero to traitor. At the end of the novel, there are extensive source notes, quotation notes, and even an index to help readers locate specific information about the text. Although there aren’t any graphics within the text, the cover is incredibly important: the image of Arnold standing tall, but with his face shadowed pulls readers into the text by making it look like an adventure novel.
Sheinkin, S. (2010). The notorious Benedict Arnold. New York: Macmillan
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