In this coming of age story, set during the War of Independence, Noah Cope is learning what it means to think for himself. The best part of this book was the fact that it comes with a fresh and different perspective. It also leads us along and we discover each historical event with fresh eyes. We know where Noah started in his loyalties (hence the name of the book) but the friends he makes along the way encourage Noah to make his own decisions, based on the facts that he sees - not just what someone tells him This is important for us all!

Loyalty is a coming-of-age story about a boy who is a loyalist in Boston during the American Revolution. I enjoyed the fresh perspective and the struggles that Noah has in deciding what he believes and which side he will ultimately support. The first part of the book is quite dark with descriptions of tar and feathering and Noah's feelings about the barbaric act. There is plenty to discuss and many historic events play a role in the plot.

This is a great piece of historical fiction that was so well written like many of Avi's other works. This will be a great addition to my classroom library as my students really enjoy Avi's writing.

Loyalty by Avi would be a great addition to my fourth grade classroom. My students study the American Revolution and this historical fiction book would be the perfect read for them to see the opposing perspective of a Loyalist during that time.

Books that are both exciting and thought-provoking are my very favorite kind to use with students. Avi’s works rank right up there – I’ve loved using the Crispin books and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.

Loyalty takes a position rarely seen in American lit: the main character is a Tory living on American soil in the years leading up to the Revolution. It starts off with a bang, and while the action is a bit intermittent at times, Noah’s mind never stops whirling.

That’s truly one of the best parts of the book. Loyalty is both the title and theme, and with that Avi has created a coming-of age story that’s quite unique. The historical setting and several characters are all true, but the author plays devil’s advocate a bit by making Noah side with the British – until he doesn’t. Noah’s exploration of what true liberty and loyalty mean and what the actions and consequences are of his choices make for a fascinating book that will prompt students to think deeply and critically. These are crucial skills for any adult in the making, and the questions raised are still applicable today.

Loyalty will make an excellent addition to any ELA or history classroom. Add this one to your TBR piles now – you don’t want to miss it.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was an exceptionally well written book. Every fictionalized accounting I’ve watched or read regarding the American Revolution has been very one sided. Those fighting for independence were depicted as being 100% in the right, and those loyal to England were traitors. Avi doesn’t play that game. He shows both the good and bad on both sides without showing bias at all. He then has Jolla, a young black man, be the impetus that teaches the main character, Noah, to think for himself. Brilliantly done!
This is an excellent book with a powerful message that is relevant for our time today. I look forward to getting this into the hands of many readers.
Thank you Clarion Books and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #Loyalty

Young Noah Cope's belief in the Loyalists' commitment to King George III is bolstered as he sees his father tarred and feathered, an act which leads to his father's death. Noah, his mother, and sisters seek refuge with an uncle in Boston, a city protected by the armies of England. Noah's father had assured the family England would protect them. Too young to serve in the army, Noah secures a job as a spy for the English. But Noah begins to see cracks, both moral and physical, in the armor of mighty England. He is no longer sure he can give his allegiance to the Loyalists. Yet, the Patriots killed his father. And both sides withhold freedom from Blacks.

To whom should Noah be loyal? As Noah wrestles with this question, he learns that he needs to think for himself.

From the moment I "witnessed" the tarring and feathering of Noah's father, I was drawn into this story. It is a story I couldn't leave, even when I turned the last page. As with so many of Avi's books, this one will stay with me for a very long time.

Avi never fails to disappoint as a young adult author, and in this latest release, he does a fantastic job of making the old new again. Loyalty is a book of the American Revolution, told from the perspective of a teen from a Tory family. History is written by the victors, so it's not often we have a children's book of the Revolutionary War written from a Loyalist perspective, which is one of the things I love most about it. As the book progresses, we see him grow and change into a young man, challenging his beliefs and questioning right from wrong. In the end, his loyalty is truly tested in unique way. Avi also draws parallels from the past to the present in passages such as this: "Public shame. Boycotts. Physical violence. You saw that in your former home. The Sons of Loyalty oppose so-called tyranny with a tyranny all their own." I highly recommend this book as an addition to the history shelf of any middle school or homeschool!

This was a very engaging story, very fast-paced but still felt very believable. I got inspired to read up on my American history, which I must admit is seriously lacking. The thing we talked about in my Swedish school about American history was the revolution and nothing much more than that, and that revolution did change world history too, so yeah, a touch up is needed.

Avi presents us with the loyalist side of the story of the revolution – which I think might be quite unusual as the States did break free from the British Empire by 1776. I enjoyed the characters, they all felt believable, and I think Avi managed to portray the horrors of war and what the threat of war does to the demeanour of people.

A very nice book in its genre and I’m happy I got to read it.

Classic Avi with a contemporary theme.. With the current environment of misinformation and jumping to conclusions without a factual basis, Noah exemplifies that group think that is easier to follow, rather than forming his own opinions Great discussion starter!

I love Avi's Historical Fiction books and Loyalty is no exception. This is definitely a book I will recommend to fans of Historical Fiction and to teachers looking for literature to complement the curriculum.

Quality historical fiction again from Avi. Would you expect any less? He must spend his days buried in original source material. Middle School kids studying American History will get so much out of this birds eye view to the American Revolution.

In 1774, Massachusetts was central to rising tensions between the Colonies and Britain. 13 year-old Noah's family supports King George III, but a friend's betrayal causes the family to be driven from their home after members of the Sons of Liberty beat Noah and tar & feather his father. It's no wonder then, that once Noah, his mother and sisters flee to Boston, the teen becomes a spy for the British.   
 
Noah's commitment to the Loyalist cause wavers as he sees hypocracy and tyranny on both sides.  Black friend Jolla raises White Noah's awareness of British and American commitment to slavery.  As Noah struggles to determine where his loyalty lies, his mother's words, "Think for yourself.", guide him and resonate with readers.   

While Noah witnesses the famous “shot heard round the world” at Lexington, the book is less about combat than the issues that stoke the fires of conflict, many of which are relevant today. The Powder Alarm, a true historical event included in the book demonstrates that the notion of partisan, unverified news is not a product of recent election cycles.  Avi paints a vivid portrait of the pubs, streets and coastline of colonial Boston, fraught with danger due to rising tensions among the citizens. Noah’s fate is left unresolved, suggesting there are no easy answers in troubling times, but he - and the reader – are prepared to make their own decisions with confidence.   This fascinating, complex novel offers a rarely seen view of the US War for Independence and belongs in every middle grade school collection and public library.

I always liked Avi's books, and this one doesn't disappoint. Avi has a knack for finding the drama and tragedy in a situation. It addresses a less common view of the revolution, presenting it more as a tragedy. It's a perspective that's lacking in most American children's fiction. The only thing is, the characters' speech styles and syntax don't make for easy reading.

Loyalty by Avi; Clarion Books, 352 pages ($16.99) Ages 10 to 12.

Prolific author Avi offers a fascinating perspective on the American Revolution in this riveting tale of a 13-year-old boy who spies for the British after his father, a Church of England pastor, is murdered by neighbors in their small Massachusetts town for his loyalty to the king. (The vividly described scene in which the pastor is forced to disrobe, then is tarred and feathered may be too much for some in this age group.)

After Noah is savagely beaten by Rebels (the British term for what Americans call Patriots), his widowed mother signs over their house to the local attorney in exchange for a wagon ride to Boston in search of an uncle who might take them in. Rejected by the British for military service, Noah agrees to become a spy instead, through a job at a busy tavern frequented by Rebels. There he becomes close friends with his boss Jolla, a free Black, whose loyalties in the coming conflict will go to whatever side offers freedom to Black people. Noah's identification with the Loyalist cause shifts after his older sister's marriage to a Rebel and his own experiences call into question his past conviction that his father was correct in all his beliefs.

The author took meticulous care in researching his novel, depicting in sometimes exhaustive detail the ferment in Boston on the eve of revolution, the troop movements, the lack of food, the miscalculations made about the strength of support for the revolutionary cause. Jolla serves as an important reality check to Noah with his privilege as a white person to make his own choices; Jolla is at the mercy of the political winds, without papers to prove he is in fact a free man.

Avi is the pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, who is now 83. He won the 2003 Newbery Medal for "Crispin" The Cross of Lead," and among his nearly 80 books are such excellent works of historical fiction as "The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts" and "The Button War."