Jung Kim
APUSH
P.6
1/3/15
Fast, Howard. April Morning, a Novel. New York: Crown, 1961. Print.

The author of the book April Morning, Howard Fast, is a historic novelist that has written many other novels such as Spartacus, Silas Timberman, The Story of Lola Gregg, and many more. He was born on November 11, 1914 to a poor family in New York City. After the death of his mother at a young age and his father becoming unemployed, he had to survive by stealing food and selling newspapers. He dropped out of high school but got his education by hitchhiking and riding railroads ("April Morning: Biography: Howard Fast.”). His first novel that he published was Two Valleys, which was he was 18 years old ("April Morning: Biography: Howard Fast.”). He …show more content…
Adam Cooper, the 15 year old protagonist main character is living his routine life until there is sudden news that the British are coming close. Not believing that the British will come, Adam and many others sign up for the militia for the sense of pride. But the British troops actually come and shoot at the incomparably small army. After the first person dies, which turns out to be Adam’s father, the rest of the militia scatter in fear. Adam has to accept the fact that his father has died and run to a safe place. While running away, he meets Solomon Chandler who helps guide him to a different militia. The small army makes a decisive plan to move around in small groups and slowly weaken the Red coats. Adam and the militia end up forcing the British away to Boston. Once Adams goes home, he is relieved that his family is still there, except he has to get over the fact that his father has passed away. But because of his father’s death, he finally becomes a man and takes his place in the …show more content…
Although some parts were necessary background information, it was too dry to read and it bored me. The book would have been much better if the beginning was altered so it is more captivating. Honestly, I don’t know if I would have continued reading this book after the introduction and before the climax if it wasn’t for an assignment. Reading this book was not worth the time invested at first. But towards the middle to end of the book, the excitement and heartbreaking scenes made me want to continue to read. Another flaw with this book was the ending. I was eager to find out how Adam and his family continued to live after the battle of Lexington. But the book just ends with going to bed and saying his prayers. A clear bias I saw in this book was that Fast wrote on the perspective of the colonists. The British were portrayed as the antagonists who were shown as evil human beings that were mostly inmates and poor citizens looking for