I have mixed feelings about this one. I really liked the premise, telling the story of the American War of Independence, from the POV of a boy loyal to the English King. It certainly started really well, you got a strong feeling of the divided loyalties in a community and how that increasingly spilled over into hostility. The characters were convincing and the story certainly came across as well researched. As the novel progressed Noah begins to understand there is no black and white in war, and his chosen side is equally capable of wrongdoing. Unfortunately this got rather bogged down in the middle. What had started well, became very dry and I struggled to remain engaged with the story. I liked the relationship with Jolla and how that finally resolved itself, but overall i felt this was a good story with a lot of potential, that got a little lost.

This book was such so unique. Set during the onset of the Revolutionary War, Noah, the main character, starts as a loyalist due to some horrific events (he's father dying from being tarred and feathered and Noah being' beaten). Him and his family move to Boston to live with his mother's uncle and from there Noah becomes a spy for the British. He befriends another boy, Jolla, who works at the tavern where he's spying. Jolla is black and is a freeman. He sees what Noah is doing and he's constantly telling him to form his own opinions and join the side of the war that he agrees with the most. Noah witness many pinnacle events such as the Boston blockade, and the Battle of Lexington and Concord to name a few. I would recommend this highly for any reader needing to read a historical fiction novel. The story line more quickly, and there's action around every corner. Read this for a unique perspective of loyalist vs patriot mixed in with moments that call out racial inequalities and the reality of being black in the colonies during this time. This novel does not sweep under the rug the realities of founding fathers being slaveholders, or the contradiction of loyalist crying for freedom but also owning slaves.

Such an important and powerful story. An important read for young people to understand perspectives and experiences different from their own

In this issue driven book, Avi's characters wrestle with these questions: Who is a traitor? Who is a patriot? What is loyalty? What is freedom? The answer really depends on who is telling the story, and that is the crux of Avi's Loyalty. Noah's father had unflinching pride in the British crown, and considered he and his family as loyal British citizens. Thirteen year old Noah never felt the need to question anything his father believed, until he met Jolla, his slightly older manager at the Green Dragon Tavern. Even though Noah accepted his father's political beliefs as the truth, when Jolla questioned why he held those beliefs, Noah couldn't answer, and he realized that he didn't know. He had never had to think for himself. As a Black freedman, Jolla has a vested interest in freedom, which he relaizes only white men willl enjoy. Noah's mother admonishes him to think for himself. What?? Had she questioned her husband all along? Obviously, since women also do not enjoy true freedom. In the two years depicted in the plot, both Tories and the Radicals make disastrous decisions based on misinformation; both sides torture those that don't agree with them; and both sides suffer. So who deserves one's loyalty? This title is a strong choice for inclusion in middle school and high school history coursework. It provides two points of view, Loyalist and Black, which are rarely seen in the presentation of the American Revolutionary War in school curriculum, and it provides ample outlets for discussion. I highly recommend. Thank you to Netgalley and Clarion Books for the egalley

Avi does not disappoint with his latest historical fiction book Loyalty. This book really tackled some tough issues for which there are no easy answers. Noah has grown up in a family where his father’s word was law, but when circumstances change dramatically, he is forced to decide if he should think for himself. Avi does an amazing job of taking on the point of view of both Loyalists and Patriots. This book will lead to important conversations!

If you’ve read some of Avi’s other novels — Gold Rush Girl, Crispin, True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, etc. — then you know that they are impeccably researched and full of suspense and adventure. There’s also a formality to Avi’s tone that gives the work an overall heft. The same can be said of Loyalty.

Loyalty is a master class in examining an event from multiple viewpoints. Noah finds himself smack in the middle of British and colonists, and from where he sits, both sides are lacking. He’s forced to find what works best for him and realize that what’s best for him isn’t necessarily best for those he’s closest to.

It’s the push and pull of Noah’s situation that makes it so compelling. Even in the small moments, there’s this under riding tension that underscores the tenuous position Noah is in.

As always, Avi’s writing is engrossing. There’s a reason for the author’s Newberry Award and two Newberry Honors. Loyalty is an excellent look at the American Revolution.

I'm fascinated by children's historical fiction set during the American Revolution -- so much so that I wrote a dissertation for my MA in Children's Literature on this topic (I analysed the portrayal of female characters living through the Revolution, looking at books published in 1893, 1931 & 1977). Avi's insightful novel, set in Boston and surrounding areas in the lead up to and beginnings of the conflict, is an excellent addition to children's Revolutionary War historical fiction. I hugely enjoyed the weaving of actual events and people with fictional characters -- Avi did extensive research to find historical nuggets to give the narrative authenticity, and the afterward provides readers with some information on his research process and approach to historical fiction.

But it is Avi's exploration of the moral ambiguities and complexities of the American Revolution that make this book especially powerful. Young Noah's father, a fierce Loyalist, is tarred, feathered and dies, and Noah is beaten up by those advocating for independence (not a spoiler -- this happens right at the beginning). Noah is determined to remain loyal to the Crown, but a series of events challenge his heartfelt beliefs. His friend Jolla, a free Black young man, is even more conflicted as many Americans wanting independence, including their military leader George Washington, are slave-holders, and Jolla is afraid of being sold into slavery. The British aren't much better, placing little value on the lives of Black people, using them as pawns in a political & military game. The fundamental question of the book is 'what does loyalty mean, and who should we be loyal to?' Noah and Jolla find their own ways to answer this question.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the digital advanced reader's copy.

It's 1775 and 13 year-old Noah Cope's father is a decided Loyalist. He is tarred and feathered for such a stance in a rebel town, and afterwards Noah declares his loyalty to England and swears to find a way to avenge his father's death.

However, when Noah's family moves to Boston, Noah has his views challenged. The English army uses press gangs to force men to join the Navy. They take over homes and take food from citizens. Yet, the rebels killed his father, and some of their leaders declare liberty on one hand yet enslave Black people in their homes. Is there a right side?

Noah watches all of this and wonders where his loyalties should lie. His father used to tell him what to do and who to believe, but that's gone now. He has to figure out who he is for himself.

In the words of his Black boss and friend, Jolla, "People are going to be loyal to what keeps them free. But in case you hadn't noticed, it's hard to know what that is."

It's particularly complicated for Jolla, when neither side has offered freedom to enslaved people. He can't even leave Boston, where people know him and will vouch for his free status. Even as a free young man, Jolla is still stuck because he cannot prove his freedom without a white person to speak on his behalf.

This was a quick read, but some parts didn't work for me.

Over time, Jolla's character does develop, but often he feels like a stock foil to Noah - there only to help and challenge Noah on his journey, and not a fully-developed character with his own life, frustrations, and struggles.

Also, while necessary to the story, there are some coincidences that simply felt too coincidental and made Noah's story feel less realistic.

And, ultimately, I guess that's why the book felt flat. It didn't feel fully grounded in a historical reality. It felt more like a story teaching a worthwhile and thoughtful lesson, than a compelling and authentic story of a young man living in the midst of the earliest days of the Rvolutionary War during the seige of Boston.

The best portions for me were less of Noah and more about what was happening in Boston itself.

All in all, a solid read with a thought-provoking premise with plenty of opportunities for discussion, particularly when considering our own times and what it truly means to be loyal and patriotic today.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I think there are a lack of good books available for middle grade readers about the Revolutionary War. There are obviously titles to use, but nowhere near the number of books available, for say, World War 2. So I think it is definitely a book to add to the classroom or school library regarding this time period. That being said, I wasn't particularly engaged in the book, but I can think of several young readers who will like this.

I think Avi did a solid job explaining thoughts on colonialism and race relations...choosing a side wasn't so cut and dry for everyone.. This quote in particular stood out to me,

"You're free, but you don't know it. You've built a cage out of notions and fears, but you don't see that the gate is open. It is. The least you can do is try to do whatever it is you want."

From Newberry Medalist, Avi, Loyalty follows the emotional journey of Noah Cope, whose father is killed by rebel patriots and whose family must flee to Boston in the aftermath. Determined to avenge his father's death, Noah turns to spying for the British, putting himself in a precarious situation. It is during this back and forth interaction with both British soldier and American patriots that Noah realizes everything is not as it appears, and he must lean on his relationships to discover who he truly is.

Set using the American Revolution, Loyalty is a coming of age story. When we first Noah, he's a young 13 year old trying to cope with his father's death. He's naive and determined to do anything he can to make his father proud. Throughout the two year span of this novel, we see Noah grow and as his mother challenges, think for himself. This is the story of a young man who must navigate what he sees and hears, along with what he knows about his friend a young Black freeman. Where do Noah's loyalties lie in a volital time in history?

I read this book with my 10 and 14 year olds. We shared this one as a family read aloud and I was glad I didn't just hand it off to either of them. The challenging thing about Loyalty is that it mirrors real life. Characters are complex. Situations are complex. And the reader is often left with a feeling of standing on shaky ground. Historical figures are examined from multiple angles, both in relation to politics, loyalties, and stance on slavery. It's often times hard to discern good guys from bad guys.

I would recommend this book with a few caveat... read it with your children... discuss it with your children... talk about the complexities of human nature. This was a tough read at times because it really was difficult to discern where Noah's loyalties should lie. Also be aware that there are a handful of very graphic scenes. The opening where Noah's father is killed is particularly difficult to read and I censored it as we read aloud. I would definitely not categorize this as a middle grade book. At best, this book is geared toward the high school years, but again with discussion and guidance by parents. Loyalty is a unique look at the American Revolution, but not without its challenges.

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Avi begins his book Loyalty with the date of Friday, April 4, 1774, and the sentence, “On this day, my father was murdered because he said a prayer.” A crowd of fifteen angry men gathered outside looking through the windows as his father said grace at the family dinner table, a grace that included a blessing for the king and the royal family. The men hauled his father outside, stripped him of his clothes, and tarred and feathered him. His father refuses to denounce the king and pronounces as his last words, “God save England.”

After his father’s death, thirteen-year-old Noah is beaten as well for not telling who the Tories are even though he doesn’t know. Afterwards, he is absolutely certain that the loyalists are right and the Sons of Liberty are wrong. He is fearful for himself and the rest of his family and flees with them to Boston. He becomes a spy for the British who must be right since they espouse the beliefs of his father. He will see many behaviors and much hypocrisy on both sides before he comes to understand what his mother means when she keeps telling him “be true to yourself.” He will slowly gain a new perspective on what it means to be really free from Jolla Freeman. Jolla, a free Black man, questions Noah’s thinking without judging him until he begins to question it himself. Jolla lives among two sets of people who are adamant that they are right, yet both groups are willing to enslave people to reach their goals.

I became a fan of Avi’s writing with The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. He knows how to take his readers to a different time as he weaves an absorbing story. Like Avi’s previous books, Loyalty puts a compelling story in the midst of a historical time and shows the hard choices its characters must make. He writes for middle grade and for people like me who love compelling middle grade historical fiction.

Thanks to Netgalley and Clarion Books for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was such an Avi fan when I was in grades 4-6 ( see The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle). So I leapt at the chance to re-visit his historical fiction targeted at middle grade readers.

It is the late 18th century and the flames of the American Revolution have been ignited. For Noah, his mother and sisters, the death of his clergymen father at the hands of the rebels sends them to Boston. But life there is not easy and with people taking sides, Noah finds himself questioning everything that he thought he believed.

Enjoyable and informative historical fiction that I would certainly add to the classroom library

Publication Date 01/02/22
Goodreads review 01/02/22

I devoured Avi's books when I was younger--I still think about The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle--so I eagerly requested this one when it became available. I was also intrigued by the journalistic plot device and having the story of the Revolutionary War told from the perspective of a British supporter rather than an American rebel.

Overall, while the violence is just as visceral as his other books, this feels like it has less depth. It focuses heavily on the events of the Revolutionary War and less on the people, though we do get a glimpse into Noah's family life. His friendship with Jolla, a free Black man, is the most substantial; while there's a dearth of historical fiction--particularly juvenile historical fiction--about the role of slaves and other Black folks during the various American wars, there's a heavy-handed "SLAVERY AND RACISM ARE BAD" message here. I appreciate Jolla's incorporation, but it's almost like he's a tokenized figure in some scenes.

I'm pleased Avi's still writing books, but I liked this less than his others. If you or your younger readers love this period and don't mind some descriptive wartime violence, pick this up.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this middle grade work. Loyalty is a historical fiction. The story is well written, if a little slow. I enjoyed the premise, and Noah's journey figuring out what side he truly was on. This was a little old for the fifth graders in our school where the Revolution falls in our curriculum, but I can see many middle schoolers enjoying this one.

Loyalty shares the story of a young boy struggling with the murder of his father at the hands of Sons of Liberty members in a Massachusetts town. I kept expecting the main character to see his mistake and to declare his loyalty to the side of freedom, but that did not occur. I really wished that it was from the Freeman's point of view, as this would have been a voice not often heard from in middle grade fiction. I am usually a great fan of Avi, and Sophia's War and the Crispin series are some of my favorites. It was entertaining and moved quickly, but as an American, it was difficult to stay on the side of the main character.

Honestly, it has been a while since I read this book. I forgot to review it. It's unexceptional in that it's another American Revolution-era bildungsroman told from the POV of a young, white male, but it's author is AVI, so the expectation is that it will be a high-quality read. It doesn't disappoint in that respect. It's a good choice for upper-elementary readers.

Being a fan of Avi's other historical fiction I was excited to read the newest one. Loyalty follows Noah who is from a Loyalist family during the American Revolution. The opening is quite brutal as Noah sees his father tarred and feathered by the Son's of Liberty. Noah vows to always be loyal to England and the King. He eventually gets a job at a tavern as a spy for the Royal army. He meets Jolla, a free Black man, there who makes him question what liberty really is. I appreciated the perspective that showed flaws in the freedom fighters as well as the hypocrisy of men who owned slaves who were also fighting for freedom.

I have not read an Avi book since I was in elementary school. Yet again he does not disappoint. Noah's father believes in England's ability to protect and defend the America's, yet when his beliefs lead to his demise Noah is faced with the tough choice of what and who is he loyal to. As tensions rise, Noah learns that loyalty is not something someone should have blindly. Is loyalty something we should have just because our parents had it or is it something we learn and develop as we grow?

This is such a beautiful tale of Noah really discovering that what parents teach and believe doesn't have to be what you believe. There is also so many different ways to be loyal, and it is something that you as a person must grow and develop. I love the relationship between Noah and Jolla is one that many authors or historians would not have focused on when dealing with the Revolutionary War. Their friendship is very unique as is Jolla's perspective of what the Revolutionary War really means for not only Americans, but the black community. That Noah is given access to such a perspective along with all he sees while working under the British really allows him to create his own ideas about the war. Having studied history and having read a lot of historical novels, I truly appreciate that such a different take on the lives and the actions and consequences of this war is being made available for children to read. So many books dealing with war are really from one sides perspective or the others, having a book that tells the story of someone during that time but not really fully invested in either side is just so different, and something kids need to see. Life is not always this side or that side, sometimes there is a middle ground. While many times life will push you to pick a side, you can still be loyal and uphold your beliefs.

Thank you to Clarion Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

Hey Avi! I was in-between 4 and 5 birds, but I'll give you the full 5. I was given an e-book copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for my super honest review. I've read Avi's Button War and really liked it, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this one. I liked how it was written in journal entries. The beginning of the book and the gruesome death was everything I wanted as a kid. I loved it. The middle was a little slow, but I felt like the end was strong. While it was in the 1770's I felt a lot applied to now. We are all looking for something to be loyal to, Avi highlighted this in their author's note too. It makes you think, the history was interesting (and mostly accurate), and highlighted a friendship between a white boy and a black teen who was free and not enslaved. So many learning opportunities for a young reader. This one would be worth the read!

This book drops of February 1, 2022!

**I must add, I would have read this much faster, however I got pregnant right after I started it and had to take a few months off because I couldn't stop throwing up.... Not a reflection on the book itself.


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It is 1774 in New England, and Noah Cope a young 13 year old, has had his loyalty tested. His father, the local pastor, has been tar and feathered for being a staunch Loyalist to England and now Noah has been beaten and forced to confess what he knows about other Loyalists in the village of Tullbury. Forced out of their home, they flee to his uncle’s house in Boston. Noah gets a job to be a spy for the British army while working at the Green Dragon tavern, a known Patriot gathering place. Here Noah must confront what it means to be loyal and to whom does he owe that loyalty.
#Loyalty #ARC #Netgalley