  | When Paul Revere rode : voices from the first night of the American Revolution Author: Thomson, Sarah L. | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
Here is the thrilling account of Paul Revere's midnight ride to warn colonists in the towns of Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, that the British were coming. Brief narrative text and poems are featured from the point of view of ordinary people who took part in this historic event.
| Illustrator: | Henderson, Nik |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (01/15/26)
School Library Journal (11/01/25)
Booklist (02/01/26)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 11/01/2025 K-Gr 4—The ghostly image of Paul Revere gallops across the cover of this intriguing title. Using voices from those who participated in Revere's historic ride and the beginning of the American Revolution in one way or another, Thomson dramatically brings readers into the moment-by-moment drama of that fateful night. Henderson's graphite and digitally colored illustrations capture the clandestine nighttime action as well as the fear and anticipation of people and animals on both sides of the impending conflict through gripping close-ups. The narrative style features a short introduction to the featured moment of the spread followed by a poem that effectively captures the sentiments; historical quotes further bring the event to life. As the evening progresses, readers are taken on a perilous journey from Boston to the impending "shot heard 'round the world" at Lexington and Concord. Along the way, readers will meet regular citizens, enslaved men, and notable names from American history. Back matter includes a "Who's Speaking?" feature to add information regarding the subjects in the main text as well as a timeline and additional information. VERDICT Gripping art and effective text place readers in the middle of this dramatic night in American history. Recommended.—John Scott - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 02/01/2026 With a deep dive into historical records, Thomson offers a moment-by-moment account of events during the afternoon and night of April 18, 1775, with biographical notes on all the significant participants, direct quotes from some, and free-verse poems in several voices adding personal takes and commentary. Paul Revere’s name will be the most familiar one here, and the back matter includes a timeline of his life. However, he played less of a role than many suppose. Others preceding and following his capture partway through the famous ride include a stable boy who brought him the news that the British were on the march; the man who loaned him a horse; Dr. Samuel Prescott, who actually reached Concord with the warning; and an unnamed enslaved man wakened by voices “shouting of freedom / that won’t be for me.” The author closes with a lively summary of the ensuing battle, and the anxious figures in Henderson’s windswept, moonlit illustrations all have a ghostly look that further heightens the drama of the historic turning point. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.
