BLADES OF FREEDOM by Nathan Hale. New York: Amulet Books, Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series, 2020. 127p. ISBN 978-141974691-8 hc. $13.99    Gr. 4-6   JFIC

In this witty jaunt through history, Nathan Hale and a Ninja Turtle look-alike spin the Louisiana Purchase Wheel of History to cover each piece of the the complicated events and people who played a part in the largest land deal of all time.  Two major players were Napolean Bonaparte of France and a legendary leader of a slave uprising in the French colony of Haiti.  The book's end papers show a map of North America in 1802, depicting the United States occupying land east of the Mississippi, Louisiana Territory (owned by France) stretching to the Rocky Mountains, and Spain owning everything else, including Mexico.  Present day Canada belonged to England, showing the dominance of England, Spain, and France in the 1700's.  Historic events come to life through the comic book style of storytelling, impressive in shades of teal and gray.  As with all Hazardous Tales, the author infuses a generous amount of silly humor to make the stories memorable for young readers.
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI