Benedict Arnold: From Patriot to Traitor Book

Profiles the life of the man who betrayed his country and became known as a traitor.

Barbara L. Talcroft - Children's Literature

Middle school students encountering the story of the American Revolution for the first time may well wonder how the name Benedict Arnold has become synonymous with "traitor. " Since school texts seldom explore his background or motivations in detail, this volume of the "Signature Lives" series may help to satisfy young readers' curiosity. Arnold was a physically strong and often reckless youth who suffered greatly when his father became an alcoholic and lost his business, his money, and the family's social position in eighteenth-century Norwich, Connecticut. The author suggests that Arnold was ever after seeking recognition and security to compensate for this loss. After early heroic exploits for the patriots' cause, Arnold felt slighted by Congress in both promotion and pay, although Washington considered him an able general. Eleven chapters retell the story of Arnold's marriage to lovely Loyalist Peggy Shippen, his aborted attempt to surrender West Point, his flight to the British and ultimate fate as an exile from the new nation, also including his later time in Canada and England, and his dramatic escape from a French prison ship. The easy-to-read text, although sometimes a bit over-colloquial, should help students better understand Arnold's seemingly impulsive and destructive behavior; questions raised would make for an excellent book discussion. (Teachers might want to check out Jean Fritz's Traitor: The Case of Benedict Arnold as well.) Illustrations, mostly colored engravings of the period, are appropriate and attractive. Other features include informative sidebars, an illustrated time line, and bibliographies of books and websites. 2005, Compass Point, Ages 9 to 12.