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A good historical novel, when its history is accurate, is a delightful way to learn about past events and people. Such a story brings the past to life for readers of all ages and serves as an excellent supplement to a history curriculum. Johnny Tremain: A Story of Boston in Revolt was written by Esther Forbes, who is also known for her Pulitzer Prize–winning adult biography of Paul Revere. Johnny Tremain won the Newbery Medal for best young adult novel in 1943.
In the novel, the people, places, and events of the early American Revolution in Boston are experienced through the eyes of Johnny Tremain, an apprentice to a silversmith who competes with Paul Revere in the trade. The depth of detail Forbes collected while researching her biography of Paul Revere, published just a year earlier, is unmistakable. Her meticulous understanding of the era allows the beliefs, speech, and actions of the time to feel authentic and vivid. High school readers—and advanced middle school students—will come away with a greater appreciation for the American Revolution, the foundations it laid for our nation, and the importance of preserving the rule of law and individual liberty.