The Strangest Tale You've NEVER Read: Weird things happen during wars. One of the strangest tales you've never read is how the richest kid in France teamed up with a teenage slave to help win America's Revolutionary War. (And it's true.) Spies & Lies (+ Tons of Money): Lafayette was nineteen when he arrived at General George Washington's "front door step" (his military tent) and basically said, "Put me in, coach, I'm ready to play." Washington didn't need another soldier with a quick trigger finger. He needed money, and Gilbert Lafayette had inherited tons of it. Washington signed him up. For the final member of his team, Washington wanted someone who was a really good liar (especially when a gun was pointed at him). And he found him: James Armistead, a teenage slave. The Kid Who Fooled Them All: Everyone assumed that James Armistead was a Black boy who couldn't read, write, or add a column of numbers. But the kid fooled them all (and he even spoke French) Pretending to be a runaway slave, Armistead became a servant for the commander of England's forces, Lord Cornwallis. All the while, he risked his life to supply General Washington and Lafayette with details about British strengths, weaknesses, and troop movements. Gilbert Lafayette and James Armistead weren't very good at following rules, but they were terrific at getting results for General Washington. They dodged death, lied when they had to, and lived extraordinary lives. Their motto? "Cur non? " - "Why not? " Author's Website: www.LeeSmyth.com
TEASER: The Taliban tried to blow my dad to pieces in Iraq. Our government sewed him up and sent him back. He's finally home, but he's not my dad. He's Frankenstein. Once The Monster's Out Of The Box, It's Hell Getting Him Back In. IT'S ABOUT: Damaged is the story of two cousins, Jayden (16) and Lea (12), whose lives are thrown into chaos after Lea's father (Mark) returns from combat duty. PLOT SUMMARY: Jayden (16) is befriended by his cousin Lea's father (Mark), who has just returned from multiple tours of duty in the Persian Gulf. Mark calls Jayden "J-man" and treats him like an adult. Lea is heartbroken after realizing that she's little more than a bargaining chip in her father's divorce battle. Mark teaches his sixteen-year-old prot g how to use night-vision goggles, listening devices, guns, and explosives. After Jayden refuses to testify during a child-custody hearing, Mark sees him as a traitor. Jayden and Lea work together to save themselves and their families from Mark's violent meltdown. VIDEO-GAME TIE-IN: Jayden can't stop thinking about a video-game named No Exit. He's Agent J and his job to rush the ambassador's daughter out of Baghdad as the government is falling. The game gives him a taste of what Mark dealt with during his tours of duty in Iraq. The game forces Jayden to make decision after decision, rarely giving him time to think about the outcome. In real life, Jayden wonders, would he have the guts to do the right thing or would he bolt? How many lies are too many? Is it better to die nobly or to live with shame? In the fog of war, there are no easy answers. In video games, all deaths are virtual, mistakes can be corrected. But Jayden and Lea are being hunted, and there's no RESET button in sight. STYLE: Damaged is fast moving and dialogue-driven so that boys will keep turning the pages. Female readers will identify with Lea (age 12). Most readers can finish the novel during a weekend. Author's Website: www.LeeSmyth.com
