Blades of Freedom (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #10): A Tale of Haiti, Napoleon, and the Louisiana Purchase

I am 8 years old and I loved the book! I will read it over and over and over again. It was pretty bloody but I loved the funny parts. Some of the talky talk talk is a little boring but all the characters are very funny. I have every single Nathan Hale book and I love all of them.I am the 8 years old mother and I also read the book. Totally new topic for me as I never learned about the Haitian Revolution in school. All of Nathan Hale's books are extremely well researched and super informative in an easily digestible way. Sure, it's a little graphic, but it is a graphic novel/comic book so I didn't feel it was inappropriate or anything (I'm wondering if the 1 star reviews have read any of his other books which are all very similar). 5 stars from us for sure, just like all of his books.

This review is based on what my son (preteen) told me about this book. He is a huge fan of Nathan Hale and the series is one of his favorite History books. He has been reading these books since he was 8 and has reread them so many times. When I see Nathan Hale has a new book coming I preorder them right away.He said this book was confusing because of all the jumping around it did.He said it was gross because of all of the blood in the book (yellow fever pictures). He thought the blood was to graphic.There is a funny part at the end that he liked.I personally am glad for this opportunity for him to learn about the Haitian Revolution/Louisiana Purchase.After my oldest read the book I have changed my rating to a 3 star.My teenager enjoyed the jumping around in the book. At first the jumping around did seem confusing but by the end of the book it made sense.The way he wrote the book was good but the subject itself was a hard reality. Everyone in the story seemed to hate one another.My teenager says the author did a great job in writing about it but it is a tough/deep subject to write about.Bottom line, it will get read several times in my house and I will continue buying the books because I like that my children are learning about these subjects.

this book had a strong message which in any other way, other than how this wonderful author explained it would be even too brutal for me (14 yr), i even used this book in a history exam and it really inspired me while craving my attention at the same time. i started reading this series when i was in 6th grade, at the time i did not realize the true horror of these wars. like all kids i liked a good action comic that was fun to read, and great when i needed something smart to say to impress my parents with. over all this book puts important parts of three major historical events into a great historical graphic novel and tops it with a great author

This book is my favorite series so my mom got me this book. I really like history and this series is funny, historical, and super fun to read. I really recommend this series for any history buffs. 👍🏼

History made fun! My 2 boys can’t stop reading these series. We have all the books. Wish there were more!

I have a PhD in History from an Ivy League school and an 8 year old child who is a voracious reader. I love this series and am thrilled to see that the author has included and distilled some of the best recent historical scholarship on the Haitian Revolution in his bibliography. When I was in grade school, I was never taught that the American Revolution and the Louisiana Purchase had anything to do with the rebellions of enslaved people of African descent in the Caribbean, but it absolutely did. I'm glad that Mr. Hale has provided my child with an engaging way to learn about this important, complex, and long-neglected history.

From the 16 year old down through the 2 year old love this book and the rest in the series. It brings American historical fiction to life in an accurate and entertaining way. My readers and not-yet-readers thumb through these books again and again, month after month, delighting in the story telling and humorous way Mr Hale presents these tidbits of history.

My son (9) LOVES the Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales books and has read them all several times. We were so excited for this new book to come out but I could tell something was up with my son after he started reading this one.It took awhile for me to get it out of him but in short- it was gruesome on a new level- the slavery and the yellow fever was too much. He asked if he could return it for a different book or donate it, which is completely unexpected as all the other books in the series are well loved. After reviewing the book I’m not even sure I want to donate it. Yikes.Parents may want to preview this one and decide for their families what is appropriate. My son is right in the middle of the recommended age range and though the other books are gruesome in nature (in a fun way) this one was too much and I regret that I didn’t preview it first and that he got kind of scared by the content.