ALA Booklist (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

No name in the annals of U.S. history is more synonymous with treachery and betrayal than Benedict Arnold. Perhaps not so well known is the British major that was Arnold's coconspirator, young and ambitious John André. The book is a study in contrast: André considers the benefit of his country, while Arnold acts only for the benefit of himself. In fact, Arnold's motivations are examined with great detail, from his ardor for his pretty, young Loyalist wife, Peggy Shippen, to his ire over not being amply recognized for his acts of valor, to his want of money and a more opulent lifestyle. This in-depth look at Arnold's personality, rooted heavily in primary source materials, creates a far more complex portrait than the one provided by most textbooks. The chronological telling of the men's plot to take West Point provides countless opportunities for critical thinking and discussion. With colorful illustrations and insightful observations, books like this one make the names recorded in history much more human.

Kirkus Reviews (Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

During the Revolutionary War, Maj. John André and Maj. Gen. Benedict Arnold each sought glory, but instead both found ruin. André was in charge of British secret intelligence. Arnold was the American hero of the Battle of Saratoga. But Arnold felt slighted. Maimed in the battle, capable of no further battlefield heroics, and denied official reward and recognition from Congress, he sought fame and fortune in an unusual way: plotting with André, he would hand over the American stronghold of West Point and its 3,000 soldiers to the British. This would hasten the end of the war, and Americans would be grateful. However, this was treason. André was caught and hanged, and Arnold lived in exile for the rest of his life. It's a complicated story, and Castrovilla's choice of telling it in alternating third-person points of view diffuses dramatic tension and pacing. Even the concluding gallows scene is kept at a distance, in both words and image. The illustrations, however, are stellar, employing O'Brien's signature squiggly ink lines and watercolor for an effect akin to 18th-century hand-colored woodcuts. The effective alternation of framed illustrations and full-bleed spreads adds necessary drama to the tale. Overall, a volume that young history buffs will find absorbing. A visually exciting introduction to a famous spy case and a name synonymous with "traitor." (aftermath, timelines, places to visit, resources) (Informational picture book. 8-12)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

O-Brien joins Castrovilla for this companion to Revolutionary Friends, which focused on George Washington and Lafayette. This time, she explores the relationship between a less reputable Revolutionary duo: British major John André and West Point commander Benedict Arnold, who conspired to surrender the fort to the British. The third-person narration switches between the men, frequently imagining their thoughts and nervousness (-John forced himself to think past all this danger and suspense-to the taking of West Point!-), as well as their anger and hopelessness as their plan failed. As in his books about Jefferson and Franklin, O-Brien-s squirrely ink lines and watercolor washes bring a certain playfulness to the 18th-century setting, despite the dire subject and high stakes. A grim account of two men done in by quests for personal glory. Ages 9-11. (Sept.)

School Library Journal (Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

Gr 3-6In short, dramatic scenes, this title by the author of Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette presents the story of two notorious Revolutionary War soldiers. The straightforward narrative alternates between the viewpoints of British major John André and American major General Benedict Arnold, two men whose desire for power and recognition eclipsed their sense of honor and integrity. The book unfolds chronologically, moving from British headquarters in New York City to various outposts throughout upstate New York. Negotiations took some time, but eventually a deal was struck and the conspirators finally met. At each turn along the road to treason, Castrovilla shines a light on the motivations and conflicted emotions of André and Arnold. Although they dreamed of glory, the two Revolutionary rogues both came to a bitter end. The ink and watercolor illustrations set the scene in careful detail. The muted colors and interesting textures of the artwork call to mind old-fashioned woodblock prints. In two panels depicting Arnold's narrow escape, the American traitor dashes through the front door of his sumptuous home as his dismayed wife looks on, and then rides on horseback down a rocky hill to the river. A concluding author's note and a list of places to visit add historical interest. VERDICT Future historians will enjoy this psychological chronicle of how Arnold plotted with André to betray his fellow patriots.Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston