Buttons for General Washington

On My Own History

by Peter Roop, Connie Roop, Peter E. Hanson (Illustrator)

Fourteen-year-old John Darragh was a spy. But British-occupied Philadelphia in 1777 was not a safe place for an American spy. If he were captured, John knew he would be hanged. In this suspenseful story based on accounts of the Darragh family's spying activities for General Washington, young John undertakes a dangerous mission to deliver a message to the American army.

Genres: History, Biography, Picture Books, Childrens, American Revolutionary War, American History, School

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Peter Roop is an award-winning author and educator who has written over one hundred children’s books including biographies, novels, humor, picture books, and science books. Seven of his books are Reading Rainbow books, including the Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie. In 2013, the Wisconsin Library Association recognized Peter and his wife, Connie Roop, as Notable Wisconsin Authors for their body of work, and Peter has been named a Wisconsin State Teacher of the Year. The Roops live in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brooklyn read aloud to me. She rated it 4 stars.
Short story how a young boy delivers a coded message for General Washington in the buttons of his coat, and the dangers he goes through.

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this and made a cherry pie for George Washington's birthday!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jacob read during naptime..krb 3/17/16

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of a series called "On My Own History" for grades 2-3, an easy reader about a young boy who is an American spy during the Revolutionary war. Fourteen-year-old John Darragh carries messages sewed into the buttons on his coat. The messages are in code and can only be delivered to General Washington himself. But because John is a Tory, he is attacked on the street on the way to deliver an important message. He doesn't realize until later that he is missing one of his buttons.

The story is engaging and suspenseful. It gives younger readers a glimpse of life during our war for Independence.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors' note at the beginning of the book let us know that although the main characters in the story were real, and did, in fact, act as spies for General Washington's army, the story was more of a this-could-have-happened type of fiction. It was realistic enough that James felt pretty nervous about the outcome and was experiencing a bit of (harmless) anxiety for the young man who was risking everything to take coded messages to his brother hidden in the fabric covered buttons of his coat.

[Jasmine Stocker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a good example of the war and how it wasn't safe for spies with all the British soldiers around. I wish I was exposed to more historical fiction books when I was a child because I don't well know history without having to look it up every time. This book is fiction because it has dialogue and without Hohn Darragh writing the story we will never know exactly what was said.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been liking these little history books for kids. I didn't like this one as much as some of the others.

This story is about the Darragh family who were spies for the American army during the Revolutionary War. The details about the family were true, but the story was what "might have happened." I prefer the stories that are actual historical accounts of events that did happen.

[Helen-Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this story of a teen-age spy for the Americans during the American Revolution. Not sure, though, that the author's use of the Quaker thees and thous is actually correct.

[Lindy Schlehlein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids all loved this. Very memorable.

[Congetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son read this aloud to me. I was curious about the story as I had read a non-fiction book about spying during the American Revolution. This was a cute story about how a young teen was able to help spy for his country and meet General Washington. It seemed realistic based on the information I had read in the non-fiction book about spying. My son enjoyed the story.

[Abby Huhe]

This is a story about a boy who is a spy for the rebels and had to sneak a message past the British. This is about the process that he took to sneak a message to General Washington. He was honored when he had the chance to meet Washington.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book was my choice to read to my grandson’s 1st grade class that has begun a unit on the Revolutionary War. The students readily told me all about the Boston Tea Party so introducing George Washington’s spy ring was fascinating stuff. It was a perfect story for these young students, simple and easy for them to understand. Good watercolor illustrations enhanced the danger factor, courage, and unselfish determination to help Gen. Washington fight for independence

Even though the event of this particular story was just a possibility, the Darragh Family’s part in George Washington’s spy ring was true and documented. The courageous Darragh Family was a small, yet important factor in America’s fight for independence. It is a perfect story for very young students learning about the Revolutionary War. (And easy enough for many 1st graders to read on their own - but I will tell you that the whole class was mesmerized as I read it to them!)

I find the whole subject of George Washington’s spy ring incredibly fascinating no matter what level it is!

[J.M. Wasko · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do you introduce early spy techniques to early childhood readers? The Roops present a simple and compelling narrative about one child's brave effort from which you could derive an approach.

Illustrated by Hanson's quiet, but unique, watercolors, we follow along on one family's attempt to practice just one method: smuggling messages to Washington inside of cloth-covered buttons. I would specifically recommend this to Philadelphia-based reading families because it offers an interesting visualization of the British-occupied locale of the Continental Congress in wartime.

Although Quaker and traditional in gender and family dynamic, the family is not unrelatable. The younger son doing the letter-smuggling is a character, but thin enough that a reader could imagine stepping into his shoes. If any details about how exactly the notes were hidden in buttons

[Zack · Rating 3 out of 5]

We liked this book but I think it may have mis-represented the family. They were Quakers and the mom, Lydia Darragh, actually ended up as the most famous spy of the family. In the book, "Spies of the Revolution," we read that she took great satisfaction in the fact that she never told a lie, even when questioned by British officers. In this book, her son lies. It did give us the opportunity for a good discussion about not compromising your values though.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great choice for beginner readers who are looking for something with substance. The historical story involves a young teen who is tasked with taking a message to General George Washington. The note is sewn into a coat button. He loses the button, is stopped by a British soldier, and eventually is captured after recovering the button. The story is tense when the button is lost and when he is captured. A good book for anyone looking for a good story. Great for English Language learners also.

[Heloyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

A small book with an interesting story of a young boy who helped his family by delivering messages hidden in the buttons of his coat to George Washington. An easy, easy read but enough to encourage further reading since it is based on the true accounts of the Darragh family during the Revolutionary War.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting adventure story of a boy helping send secret messages to General Washington. In fact, his whole family is in on it! Simple enough for younger kids to understand, but interesting enough to hold the attention of older kids.

My boys really enjoyed it and it was a quick read which added some "fun" into our study of the American Revolution.

[Carrie Daws · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very simple story meant for early elementary that tells how a Quaker family got involved in the American Revolutionary War. It tells enough to give students an awareness of the dangers of spying as well as the tensions between settlers at the time without overwhelming a young child with too much violence.

[Gena Lott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This simple but fascinating story about the Revolutionary war tells about one method used by spies to get information to General Washington.
Well writtena and full of suspense, it is a wonderful introduction for beginning readers to non-fiction.
2nd and 3rd grades.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The boy is a Quaker. He hides secret messages for General Washington in his buttons. It's really amazing! I think so!!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book about a boy who is a spy...he hides messages in his buttons that helps General Washington! Great Book!!

[Jesse Baldwin]

This story would be fun for students to read because it is told through the eyes of a young boy trying to get secret letters to George Washington during the time of war.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!!!

[Penny Dawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

SRP selection, old-school

[Mariah Roze · Rating 3 out of 5]

My student read this! Very cute :)

[Hillvan]

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