Book Nook - The War of Independence Way

 

The War of Independence Way opens with the Reds (the British redcoats), bullies from Crown Township, blasting Massachusetts Avenue boys with paintballs (the Boston Massacre) on the orders of their leader, Georgie King (King George III), the richest kid around and the worst eighth grader in history. Members of Down with Crown, a “secret society,” get revenge by dumping lemonade over Georgie’s head rather than pay “taxes” on their profits. Which works out well . . . except that it starts a war that Independence Way seems to have no chance of winning. Because the neighborhood needs her, GW (George Washington) reluctantly leads the Independence Warriors. But despite early victories, such as crossing Delaware Creek to humiliate Georgie in his own school, the Warriors, already under-resourced, become completely overwhelmed. GW hatches a plan that is either fantastically brilliant or incredibly stupid: attacking the Reds inside the Taco Bell at York Road and Town Boulevard, while also gathering “sensitive” information on them to make them give up. Eventually, Georgie surrenders (sort of), but without something to be against, the kids wonder what it is they are for. Will Independence Way remain thirteen separate blocks, or can the neighborhood become “united streets”?

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About the Author

Brian Pinaire is an author, editor, and former tenured college professor. He holds a BA in politics from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, and a PhD in political science from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Pinaire was an instructor in political science and expository writing courses while at Rutgers, and, for over a decade, he taught constitutional law and politics, American government, and legal philosophy at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he won several awards for teaching and research. He has published two other books—The Constitution of Electoral Speech Law, an academic treatise; and This Is Not Your Father’s Fatherhood, a humorous memoir and reflection on modern parenting—as well as several dozen articles for both academic journals and commercial outlets.  Pinaire was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, but currently lives in Bend, Oregon. He is married and has two sons and one spoiled dog.

About the Illustrator

Tom Burchell has more than seven years’ and fifteen books’ worth of experience illustrating children's books. He graduated from the University of Creative Arts with a BA in computer game arts, but his love of cartoons brought him to children's illustration. He finds joy drawing however and whatever he likes.