The Year of the Hangman

A Review/Teaser by Milo

It's the year 1777 and the American Colonies have been beaten by the British Red Coats. George Washington has been captured and is to be hanged. All of the revolutionary leaders have gone underground. This didn't happen, but it could have. Also in that year, seventeen year old boy named Creighton Brown got kidnapped, thrown on a ship and taken to the colonies. His Mother was tired of dealing with him because he stayed out late, drank and gambled away her money, so she hired a couple of thugs to abduct him and take him to a ship where Lt. Hale was waiting to take him to his evil uncle, Colonel Hugh Gower, in South Carolina. When Creighton got to South Carolina he saw Col. Gower whipping a soldier for having the Liberty Tree Newspaper in his possession. The Colonel was promoted to Lt. Governor of Florida, replacing someone who went mad from the stress of taking care of Florida and who committed suicide by blowing his brains out. On the way to Florida, Creighton and the Colonel and the rest of the ship were attacked by pirates. The Colonel and Lt. Hale were taken prisoner, but Creighton convinced the pirates that he was a servant who was bound to the Colonel so they let him go free. The pirates turned out to be patriots and went to New Orleans to take the prisoners (the Colonel & Lt. Hale), to their camp. In the meantime, Creighton was sent to live with Benjamin Franklin and work as a printer assistant. He met Sophie, who was Dr. Franklin's current assistant/housekeeper. Then Creighton went back to visit the Colonel in prison, and found he was expected to spy and find out information about the patriots. Creighton did spy, and found Dr. Franklin setting the type to print the Liberty Tree. After Dr. Franklin went to bed, Creighton sneaked in to print a copy of the Liberty Tree so he could take it to his uncle. Then his uncle said he was forming a plan to escape the prison, but he needed a pistol. They escaped and then the Colonel made Creighton go back to spy some more. After the Colonel informed the British where the Liberty Tree was coming from, three Brits dressed as Indians burned down Franklin's printing press. Franklin & Creighton ran in and out several times trying to rescue the type blocks, but Dr. Franklin died during the ordeal. At that point, Creighton switched sides and began fighting for the Americans. Benedict Arnold took Creighton and his friend, Peter, to England to spy on the Colonel and try to find the whereabouts of General George Washington. Benedict Arnold killed Colonel Gower in a duel and with his dying breath, the Colonel told Creighton "Saint Marks number four." To find out what relevance "Saint Marks number four" has to the story, read the book.