When his father, the richest man in Camden, South Carolina, leads a troop of rebels in the American Revolution, his 12-year-old son Joey becomes "the man of the house." But the father's troop is defeated and the Redcoats occupy his large house for their headquarters, building a gallows in the front yard to hang American prisoners on. Joey tells his own story, as his attitudes towards war, slavery, and the rights of women are changed by his experiences. This is a gritty book for school-aged children - war is definitely not romanticized here.
Great message about war in this well-written book.
