Lafayette!: A Revolutionary War Tale

Gr 4–7—About-to-be-executed spy Nathan Hale entertains his captors and readers by telling stories about U.S. history in this popular graphic novel series. In this installment, Hale returns to the setting of the American Revolution to focus on the early life of French aristocrat and Revolutionary War hero Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Young, passionate about the American cause, and endearing, Lafayette was accepted into the Continental Army when other French officers were rejected, because of his humility and willingness to learn (and because he was well connected and his wealth meant that he didn't require a salary). George Washington took him under his wing, and Lafayette's loyalty to the commander-in-chief saved Washington from a plot to remove him from command. The narrative pauses for an eight-page mini-comic about Benedict Arnold, the notorious traitor. Newcomers to the series are given enough context in the first few pages to figure out the dynamic among the Provost, Hangman, and Hale and will soon feel in on the jokes in the meta commentary. As has become customary in the "Hazardous Tales," accurate historical facts are made fun and palatable through the action-packed graphic format and a humorous lens.