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The Fighting Ground

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The Fighting Ground
The Fighting Ground
By Avi Wortis
157 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book Report by Jake Thomas

Character Analysis of Main Characters:

Jonathan:

Jonathan wants to be become a trained killer. However, Jonathan is only a thirteen-year-old boy who lives on a farm in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War in 1778 and his father will not allow him to join the Continental Army. Jonathan’s father fought in the early days of the war and seriously injured his leg and it is not easy for his father to get around. As a result, Jonathan daydreams about becoming a soldier and restoring his family name. Jonathan’s father will not sign papers that will allow Jonathan to join the militia because he needs Jonathan to help on the farm.

Jonathan wrongly interprets the fear he sees in his father’s eyes as cowardice. Readers know it is not cowardice that prevents his father from allowing his son to become a soldier. Rather, it is love for his son and the fear he could die that keeps Jonathan’s father from giving Jonathan permission to become a soldier. Additionally, Jonathan’s older brother joined the Continental Army a year before the story takes place and has not been heard from since. Jonathan’s parents are full of worry and sadness for his older brother and can’t bear to let Jonathan go.

Jonathan is fearless and young enough to believe he is immortal. He’s not as tall as a man but he is lean and strong with dark hair and a fire inside to be part of the revolution. His father believes Jonathan is strong willed and has a bright future despite the war all around them. When Jonathan hears the bells in a neighboring town he knows it’s a call to arms and he wants to go help the fight. So, Jonathan lies to his parents and says he is going to see if he can find out any news of his missing brother. This act may suggest Jonathan is an idealist who believes a positive end result will outweigh any deception he makes to get his way and achieve his
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