April Morning
Howard Fast
As a high-school student, my go-to American historical fiction author was Kenneth Roberts (probably because my father loved his novels). After I had read everything Roberts wrote, I moved on to Howard Fast. I believe April Morning was the first Howard Fast novel I read, but it was not the last. Fast was a prolific and popular author of that time.
And I understand why. His novels were entertaining -- fast-moving, with lots of action. Also informative. For a high school student who grew up in New England and had visited the sites of the battles of Lexington and Concord, April Morning held a lot of interest.
But, to be honest, I never really felt they broke out of entertaining into anything greater, as occasionally Roberts seemed to, or Esther Forbes's Johnny Tremain. Compared to such classic writers of children's adventure stories as Robert Louis Stevenson or Laura Ingalls Wilder, Fast pales.
I can recommend April Morning as a quick fun read that will teach you something about early American Revolutionary War history.
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