The Fighting Ground
The Fighting Ground
Avi
HarperCollins, 1984
157 pages
Grades 5-8
Historical Fiction
One spring morning in 1778 a thirteen-year-old boy in New Jersey hears the warning bells ring as he works his family’s farm. Sent to the local tavern to investigate, he finds himself handed a musket and sent out to fight the British. Jonathan can work a gun, but has no military training. That said, he is eager to do his part, just as his older brother is doing. The battle does not go the way Jonathan imagines. It is scary, gory, and messy. Trying to get away, Jonathan finds himself taken prisoner by three Hessian soldiers. They do not speak any English and Jonathan cannot tell what their intentions are. He is led to a small farmhouse, where a cow is begging to be milked. Jonathan milks the cow and shares his spoils with the soldiers. When returning the cow to the shed he discovers the last thing he thought he would find. What does Jonathan find in the shed? Will the Hessians hurt him? Will Jonathan ever make it back to his family and away from this terrible war?
I am searching for appropriate books to read with my book group featuring the Revolutionary War and wasn’t sure if I read this classic. Going back into my old index files of books that I have read, I discovered that I have read twenty-six books by Avi—and somehow missed this one. I immediately remedied that situation and discovered yet another gem by one of my favorite authors-though not a great choice for my book club. This short concise tale takes place over a pivotal twenty-fours hours as we experience along with Jonathan the horrors of war. Finding only violence with no glory, he has to dig into his inner courage to do the right thing and keep it together to get himself home. I love that it takes place in New Jersey, the state where I reside, and am reminded that the revolution was fought partly right in my own backyard. Though this story is short, it is not for the squeamish or young elementary students. The best audience is middle school reluctant readers who like action and adventure in their historical fiction. There is a key at the end of the book that translates what the Hessians are saying. I did not know that it was there and was as confused as Jonathan during their dialog. It was fun to see the actual conversation at the end. American kids will experience what it is like when a war is fought in your own community and maybe be more sympathetic to current world events.