A Call to Battle: War of 1812

I Am Canada

by Gillian Chan

The War of 1812 comes to life through the eyes of a young Canadian boy.

It's 1812. War has begun, and thirteen-year-old Alexander (Sandy) MacKay is jealous when his older brother Angus goes off with their father to fight the Americans attacking the Niagara region. Too young to know the darker side of battle, he resents being left to shoulder the work on his family's farm.

Itching to get in on the action, he sneaks away from home and heads to Lundy's Lane to join up with the local militia. But battle is imminent, and now there's not much his father can do except try to shield him from the worst of the fighting.

Sandy's idealized notions of what battle will be like are shattered when the man standing before him is killed by a musket ball and Sandy's own brother is severely wounded. At the battle of Lundy's Lane, the united Canadian/British forces turn the tide against the American troops, but Sandy comes to know how chilling war can be.

Just in time for the bicentennial of the War of 1812, A Call to Battle is a sobering look at the realities of war. Author Gillian Chan skillfully depicts the transformation of an impetuous young boy, full of boyish enthusiasm, into a more realistic young man who emerges on the other side of war.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Young Adult

200 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

I am English by birth, Canadian by choice. I live in Dundas, Ontario, with my husband and sometimes my son (he goes to boarding school, and no, it's his choice, not because he is a bad boy!)

I love history, especially anything to do with Norse history and Vikings. Researching any of my historical novels is my idea of fun. I am currently researching the fall of Hong Kong in 1941 to write a book in Scholastic's I Am Canada series from the point of view of a young soldier from Winnipeg.

I also love fantasy and science fiction and still plan to write an epic fantasy based on Norse history and mythology with a few werebears thrown in. I did mention that I love Vikings, didn't I?

Reviews

[Jennifer Rayment · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Good Stuff

This series is fabulous for bringing history to life in a way that will have meaning to the suggested reading level
Story feels so real that you believe this was an actual boy who lived through the War of 1812
Very impressed with the incredible amount of research that went into this &it is very unbiased, especially from a Canadian author, about a war that there is still so much controversy about which side won. (yup I am totally going with the Due South Version - Benton Fraser: ...which makes the border between Canada and the United States the longest undefended border in the world. So that since their formation, our countries have found a peaceful way to coexist. Except for the War of 1812, where your country invaded ours and we sent you packing - but that's hardly worth mentioning)
Heartbreaking - I won't lie I cried
Good commentary about the horrors of war done in a not so in your face sort of way that ticks of the kids
Makes learning history interesting and relevant to the intended reading audience (these kids are in the same age range and living quite a different life than the youth of today)
Fabulous for middle school grades to learn about history in a way which is so much more interesting than just having to memorize dates and facts. Canadian history is in fact fascinating - don't let those dull history teachers make you think otherwise

The Not So Good Stuff

More jaded kids may notice that they are being taught a history lesson disguised as a book
Quite harsh & realistic may upset sensitive younger readers (not a bad thing -- just a heads up that you might want to discuss it with your child)

Favorite Quotes/Passages

He looked upward. "Is it always going to be the province of the young to be so foolhardy and brave."

"Abell was one of our enemies, enemies I hated with my heart. Yet he was just a boy like me. I shuddered when I thought that. I could see so many similarities between us. I sank down again and rested my back against the tree, unsure what to do next."

"I could not stop the tears that came then. I bawled like a baby, not caring if my howling drew the enemy to me. I cried for Abell and his Abigail. I cried for myself. I cried for Angus and Father. I cried for shattered dreams of glory and adventure that had ended with a bloody, broken boy in a wood. I cried for oblivion and was granted it, for I fell into the arms of exhaustion and slept."



Who Should/Shouldn't Read

Fabulous for grade school history classes - teachers, this may get your kids interested in learning more
Might be a challenge for sensitive younger readers to deal with - it can be harsh reading at times
Passing this on to Jake to read next

4.25 Dewey's



I received this from Scholastic in exchange for an honest review

[Meghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sandy shows minimal empathy throughout the story and is so obstinate as to make him unlikeable.

[Vance Eagle · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite books. I started it when I was about ten so it was hard for me to follow along and read it through but once I was a bit older I loved it. It really gives you a window into 1813 life and then throws you into a whole battle. Amazing!!

[Leila Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great book that kept my children's attention and made them constantly ask me to read it. However, it is a bit descriptive and gory in parts, which I lightly censored as I read it to my kids. There is a very sad part about infant loss that kind of dragged on.

[Lisa's Book Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the I Am Canada series, a vivid, fat-paced novel for middle grade students about the War of 1812.

[Kelvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good historical fiction with lots of adventure. It has Sandy wanting to go help the militia with the war, but his father won't let him and wants him to stay home. Sandy does not give up though and keeps trying by sneaking out and going to a battle. The main characters are Sandy who is so stubborn and his father who is very strict along with Sandy's brother Angus.

The book takes place mostly at Sandy's home, which is also a farm. There is a crop field for crops, which are harvested by hand. The house is made of wood and is lit by candles. There is also a room with some hay in there for sick people. The book takes place from 1812-1815.

I think this book is good for kids to read about that war since it is very similar to the real war. This book is a bit repetitive as some events are similar to a previous event and Sandy keeps getting caught the same way. I think this is a fairly good book though.

[Tyler Bachinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. a litttle slow to to start but good. It shows the story of a young boy with some big dreams, to fight loyaly. he does not want to be a be a coward like thoes other men. the only problem is his age and his father. hes 14 and his dad is just a little over protective. follow alex as he ventures far from home to help CANADA

[Sylvia McNicoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Step into the head of a teenager in 1812. Amazing how Sandy feels so strongly incited into battle by a dramatic hanging scene. When he holds his dead newborn brother, it's a challenge for the reader not to cry.
Beautifully written as always.

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was excellently written and gives the reader a sense of what war was like in the early 1800's. Not appropriate for an elementary school because it has many graphic scenes. Fantastic for secondary.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book drug on in the beginning, it was an excellent look at how young men idolize and glorify battle and war, only to be shocked to reality by the horror of it all when it's actually experienced. It also showed how terrible and bloodthirsty mob mentality is.

[Michael Kitazaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant quick read. The build up to the war with Sandy describing civilian life was quite well done. I also liked how it showed how the war affected those not involved in the fighting.