Choice Read Post #1

The Harder The Conflict book cover

For the past month and a half I have been reading The Harder The Conflict as my choice read book in English class.  Currently I am half way through the novel written by Joseph H. Dempsey.  Ironically, Joseph actually was a history teacher at Morristown High School before retiring, and I currently attend Morristown High School.  Joseph did extensive research before writing the book as the places and most of the characters are historically based.

The novel is set during colonial times during the American Revolution.  The protagonist of the story is a young boy, Jimmy Stiles, who is 12 years old at the beginning of the story.  At the outset General Washington has some of the United States troops stationed near the "Green" in historic Morristown.  Jimmy works in a small store in Morristown and supports the patriot cause for going to war against Britain.  Throughout the story, he encounters many historical figures, for example, George Washington, Benedict Arnold, Lafayette, General Von Steuben, and Nathaniel Greene (who has the most contact with Jimmy throughout the story).

Nathaniel Greene

Jimmy's parents will not allow him to enlist in the army and become a soldier, however, they allow him to help Washington and the Colonial army in other ways.  Jimmy proves his worth and loyalty to the army as a spy when he catches a man steal important maps and papers from Nathaniel Greene.  This man tells everyone he is part of the colonial force, but is actually a loyalist.  Once Jimmy sees him take the papers, he reports back to General Greene who then has the man arrested.  Jimmy also helps General Von Steuben.  Von Steuben has trouble communicating with the American troops due to the fact he does not speak English because he is from what today is Germany.  So with the help of a translator, Jimmy copies information packets for the troops on how to use the bayonet.

Currently in the novel, Jimmy has just returned home after almost a year away from home coping the brochure as well as helping the army in other ways.  He has returned to work for the local store in Morristown when General Green approaches him.  The general asks Jimmy of a good place for the troops to stay for the winter in Morristown because General Washington wants them to find a place soon because the winter is quickly approaching and there is preparation that needs to be done before the soldiers come.  Jimmy brings Nathaniel to the location and tells him that it will probably be another tough winter.  General Green agrees with Jimmy, but says the army cannot take another harsh winter.

Patriot Soldiers

When the army moves in at the beginning of December, Jimmy sees his friend, Aaron, who he met when he was making the papers for Von Steuben.  Aaron is nearly frostbitten and Jimmy takes him to his house where Jimmy's family will care for him.

Even though I am only half way through the story, I am really into the story and find myself pretending to be in the situations that Jimmy is in.  To this point in the story Jimmy has proven himself to the colonial army and I predict that by the end of the story and war he will switch roles from a spy/helper to a soldier.