Week 10: The Sons of Liberty

• Week: 10
• Book Title:  The Sons of Liberty by Alexander Lagos and Joseph Lagos, illustrated by Steve Walker and Oren Kramek
• Book Cover Image:

Copyright (2010) Random House

• Book Summary:  An interesting blend of history and fantasy, this graphic novel makes superheroes of two runaway slaves.  The premise is that the boys are experimented on by Ben Franklin's son and change in amazing ways.  They take on injustices in this book . . . with more to come.
• APA Reference:  Lagos, A. & Logos, J.  (2010).  The sons of liberty.  New York, NY:  Random House.  
• My Impressions:  This is an amazing example of graphic art and a great story rolled into one.  The artwork practically tells the story by itself.  A lot of the text is actually back story for the reader's benefit.  Many of the frames are beautiful enough to be stand alone art.  The story is excellent and engaging, appropriate for middle school students.  I can see this graphic novel as an entry to Revolutionary War history.  From here a teacher could talk about Ben Franklin and the amazing things he did for America that are brushed upon in the story.  One would have to carefully make sure the students understood that the story line here is fantasy, though. There are many subjects brought up that would make for fascinating discussions in the classroom.  Slavery, for instance, and how the slaves were taken from Africa and shipped to North America.  What happened on plantations and what were the repercussions of trying to escape are also excellent discussion questions.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading any sequels.
• Professional Review:

From Booklist

*Starred Review* The superhero, once the embarrassing social outcast of American culture, has lately been recognized as a potent metaphor adaptable to an array of themes and, now, historical eras. Two young slaves on the run, pursued by a bounty hunter and his ferocious pack of dogs, are experimented on by Ben Franklin's heinous son William and wind up with electrically charged superpowers. Overseen by Ben himself as well as true-life abolitionist Benjamin Lay, the slaves bring some hurtin' back to their tormentors. History offers few villains as vile as slaveholders, but this graphic novel is far from being a simple revenge thriller. The use of historical figures and well-researched (but embellished) history, and a willingness to flesh out characters and set up situations to pay off in future installments, makes for an uncommonly complex, literate, and satisfying adventure. The slick art, with wiry figures reminiscent of Mark Bagley's Ultimate Spider-Man work, feels more modern than the story suggests and will be inviting to teen readers. In the style of Robert Morales and Kyle Baker's Captain America: Truth (2004), this first installment of a series respects history (with some dramatic liberties taken) and uses superpowers effectively as an empowerment allegory. Grades 8-12. --Jesse Karp --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Karp, J. (2010).  [Review of the book The Sons of Liberty by A. Lagos and J. Lagos]. Booklist.  Retrieved from amazon.com. 

• Library Uses:  I am envisioning a graphic novel display with student work on a bulletin board above.  Students can use moments from history to make their own graphic cells with text.  This would be a great way to get kids reading graphic novels and historical non-fiction.