Scar: A Revolutionary War Tale

Gr 5–8—The unlikeliest of heroes, 16-year-old Noah badly wishes to serve in the Continental Army, but a childhood accident that has left him lame prevents him from enlisting. After a Mohawk raid leaves their settlement in ruins, Noah treks to the nearest fort to inform the army and becomes swept up in the local militia's pursuit of the attackers. When the doomed retaliatory efforts claim most of the men, Noah flees, finding himself face to face with one of their enemies, a Native American boy about his age. Both boys are seriously wounded, are separated from their people, and have only each other to depend upon if they are to survive. Told in alternating chapters over the course of three days, Mann's re-creation of the Battle of Minisink and its aftermath straightforwardly introduces readers to events and figures seldom visited in children's books. While few would argue the Revolution's significance to the colonists, many forget that Native peoples fought a similar battle for basic freedoms during this time. Mann's narrative is unique in that it sheds light on this part of Native American history and, in particular, the Iroquois Confederacy's alliance with the British. At times, the historical conflict is overshadowed by the protagonist's inner struggles and memories, but the rich, exhaustive research is evident within the writing as well as in the biographical information provided at book's end. The epilogue's significance, easily the most fascinating part of the story, will likely be lost to some, but for readers interested in this time period, Mann has created a springboard for immersion in a sadly overlooked yet important part of our history.