The Fighting Ground facts for kids
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| Author | Avi |
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| Country | United States |
| Genre | Children's historical fiction |
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Publication date
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1984 |
| Media type | |
| ISBN | 0-06-440185-5 |
The Fighting Ground is a historical novel for young adults. It was written in 1984 by Edward Irving Wortis, who is better known as Avi. This book tells the story of a young teenager who runs away to join the American Revolutionary War. He soon learns that war is much harder than he imagined. The story takes place over just two days: April 3rd and 4th, 1778.
The Fighting Ground won the 1985 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. It was also named a Notable Children's Book by the ALA. In 2008, some schools in Florida had concerns about the book's language and removed it from their elementary school libraries.
Jonathan's Journey into War
Jonathan is a thirteen-year-old boy from New Jersey. He is very eager to join the American Revolutionary War. His father used to help him practice for battle. But after his father was hurt in a fight, he became afraid and did not want Jonathan to leave.
On April 3, 1778, the war bell rings. Jonathan decides to leave home anyway. He borrows a gun from a tavern owner. Then, he joins a group of American soldiers. They march all morning to fight the German Hessians. These Hessians were soldiers who fought for the British.
Captured by the Enemy
During the battle, Jonathan is taken prisoner by three Hessian soldiers. They take him to an old house. Inside, Jonathan finds a small boy hiding in the barn. This boy's parents had been killed and buried by the Hessians at the house.
Jonathan spends time with the Hessians. He starts to feel a strange connection to them, even though they are his enemies. This feeling is sometimes called Stockholm Syndrome, where a captive develops sympathy for their captors.
An Escape and a Difficult Choice
Later that night, Jonathan manages to escape from the Hessians. He runs back to the American army camp. There, he meets a Corporal who knows where the old house is. It turns out this Corporal was involved in the death of the small boy's parents.
The Corporal leads the American soldiers back to the house. They force Jonathan to go ahead and see if the Hessians are awake. But Jonathan feels compassion for the Hessians. He tries to warn them so they can escape. Sadly, he fails, and the Hessians lose their lives in the fighting. This experience deeply affects Jonathan and changes his view of war.
