Nathan Hale

December 1, 2002
Gr 2-4-This introductory biography relates Hale's story from the time of his education at Yale to his work as a spy for General Washington and ultimate execution during the American Revolution. The author includes little-known facts such as Hale, the teacher, offering early morning classes to girls at a time when only boys, for the most part, received formal education. After noting the colonial idea of spies as cheats and liars, readers are told of Hale's high degree of patriotism: "-if spying would help his country, it was honorable to him." The numerous oil paintings are mostly appropriate, but in the one that is intended to depict Hale as a 14-year-old boy, he looks like an older man. While not an essential purchase, this title will be useful in libraries in which biographies for beginning readers are needed.-Suzanne Crowder, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2003
"Hale", accompanied by oil illustrations, focuses on the patriot who was hung for spying on British troops in New York. "Keller", illustrated with soft color art, is yet another biography on this inspirational woman. Neither provides detailed information about their subjects, but both easy-to-read books are adequate introductions. An afterword and timeline are appended. [Review covers these On My Own titles: "Helen Keller" and "Nathan Hale". ]

(Copyright 2003 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)