For this week’s “Wee-kids” Wednesdays here’s a review of a children’s book and while its not Christian its still family friendly.
Kyandreia Jones. Spies: James Armistead Lafayette. Waitsfield, VT: Chooseco, May 1st 2019. 199 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
As a kid I love Choose Your Own Adventures! Now that I’m a parent I wanted my kids to also enjoy these. I got this book to read to my kids after I read a Christian version of Choose Your Own Adventure and I thought I read one aloud to them. Of all the titles I picked this one since it focused on the American War of Independence and I’ve gone over the topic as a history lesson with my kids. My girls thought it was a fun historical fiction!
In this book readers is the character of James Armistead Lafayette. James Lafayette was an actual historic spy during the time of the American War of Independence, whose top secret espionage efforts were instrumental in helping the revolutionary forces defeat the British. Also interesting is the fact that Lafayette was a former slave and the story covers a dimension of American history that might not be as focused in history class when we think of American early colonial struggle for freedom.
One of the things I love about these books is the decisions laid out before you the reader. If you make one choice, you turn to a certain page. If you make another you turn to another page to continue the story. In general the story begins with the readers being James while he’s still a slave and dealing with a fire. Then because of James’ heroism the famous general Marquis de Lafayette approaches you with an important decision you have to make: join the Revolutionary army or choose to be free from anyone dictating your life. Lafayette of course was a real historical character who was important in helping America become free from the British. What decisions you make will shape what happen in the story. One of the later decisions will be whether you be a spy for the revolution and what you would do as a spy. The end of the book also has historical information about the real James Armistead Lafayette. I love it!
This book is a fascinating story. I should say stories. It was clean and fun. My kids like it and as a parent I approve of it.
[…] you like the old “Choose Your own adventure?” And do you want to read a Christian and biblical one? If so this title is one that you should […]
The Amazon link is wrong but I will add this to my ever growing list of must haves.
Wow thank you Beverly for catching that! I just fixed it! Thanks again!
Sounds like great fun and I appreciate the information about James Armistead Lafayette, whom I had not heard about prior to this.
I know you are or were a history buff of The war of Independence, and I was thinking of you when I read this book. This was fun! It made me want to read more Choose Your Own Adventures. Praying for the interview let me know how it goes
Thanks, brother! Starting my final prep now. Interview scheduled from 3-4:30.
That’s half hour away from now; I”m praying for this interview!
Thanks, Jimmy. It was an interesting company. They make mammoth mixing equipment for industrial applications. The place was a huge job shop. Everything custom made. I have very little background in machining so It doesn’t look like a good fit.
Thanks for the review, Jim! I seem to remember that there were some fantasy books formatted this way.
Historical fiction is a wonderful way to bring history alive.
I have never read that book, but I have read a similar book that did the ‘pick-this-decision-turn-here-or-do-that-and-you-turn-here’ thing. I find that quite enjoyable; a great learning curve.