
Reach for this book if your child is struggling with feelings of being overlooked or if they are beginning to question the black and white definitions of right and wrong. This fast paced biography traces Benedict Arnold's journey from a reckless youth and brilliant war hero to the most hated man in American history. It explores how deep seated pride, perceived unfairness, and a need for recognition can drive a talented person to make catastrophic choices. Parents will appreciate how it humanizes a historical villain while providing a rich, secular look at the consequences of ego and resentment. It is ideal for middle and high schoolers who enjoy high stakes action and complex character studies.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe entire premise revolves around a hero becoming a villain based on complex personal grievances.
Death of family members and many soldiers throughout the war.
References to Arnold's father's struggle with alcoholism.
The book deals directly and realistically with the violence of the Revolutionary War, including battlefield injuries and the harsh realities of 18th-century medicine. It also touches on Arnold's father's alcoholism and the family's fall from social grace. The approach is secular and historically grounded.
A middle schooler who loves military history but is starting to appreciate nuance. Specifically, the child who feels they are 'undefeated' or 'unappreciated' and needs to see a cautionary tale about where unchecked pride leads.
Parents may want to preview the chapter on the march to Quebec, which contains descriptions of starvation and extreme physical suffering. Context about 18th-century social hierarchy is helpful but the book provides most of what is needed. A parent might choose this after seeing their child react with explosive anger to a perceived injustice at school or sports, or if the child is obsessed with 'winning' at any cost.
Younger readers (10-12) will likely focus on the 'action hero' elements and the thrill of the battles. Older teens (14-18) will better grasp the political maneuvering and the tragic psychological profile of Arnold's betrayal.
Sheinkin writes history with the pacing of a thriller. Unlike dry textbooks, this focuses on the 'why' behind the betrayal, making a historical figure feel like a relatable, albeit flawed, human being.
This biography tracks Benedict Arnold from his troubled Connecticut childhood through his meteoric rise as a tactical genius in the Continental Army. It details his heroic leadership at Ticonderoga and Saratoga, his growing resentment toward Congress and fellow officers, his eventual defection to the British, and his lonely final years in London.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.