My Name

    I was named Jasper after the stone, Red Jasper. My name is hard, just like the rock. It is a unique name, a joyful name with great amounts of significance and meaning. The stone is rare and special to come across, and I believe the same with my name. Ancient people believed that the stone was sacred, and I think that the same could be said about my name.

    I like my name because it is based on a real object, the Jasper stone. The name Jasper sounds awesome  and the rock looks awesome. The name jasper sounds righteous to me and I think i suit my name perfectly. My name is Jasper Starr Townsend.

 

"Year of the Hangman"

   
9/18/13


  "Year of The Hangman" is about a young boy named Creighton. Creighton was raised by a wealthy family in England without a father. When he is kidnapped at age thirteen, and taken to America by General Gower, everything changes.  While they are sailing, there is an unexpected attack by the English army.

  After, General Gower is captured by the English troops. Gower expects Creighton to spy on the Americans. The English bring him to New Orleans. Creighton lands himself a job working in Benjamin Franklin's printing shop because Franklin was letting him live in his house. As Creighton learned more about the country, his emotions changed about his view of America. Before this, he did not like the country at all.

  As time passes, Creighton persuades everyone that he is not a Brit. Once General Arnold has Creighton's trust, he asks he and his friend Peter if they can help him out on a mission to go into British territory and rescue General Washington from execution. By now,  Creighton's allegiance is with America, because after reading "The Liberty Tree",  Benjamin Franklin's rebel newspaper, he realized that America was a very good country after all.

  Once in England, Creighton, Peter, and General Arnold locate General Gower and convince him that they want to help him and give information about when America is going to attack and where.

  But General Gower doesn't believe General Arnold and challenges him to a duel. During the duel, Gower gets shot and dies. but before he dies, he whispers in Creighton's ear where his father is and that he isn't actually dead. The group goes to a prison and they find him there. While doing this, a guard notices them all in the chamber so he locks them in. Peter rams the door down and they all flee the prison. As they are running down the hall, Creighton gets shot in the leg. Once they make it to the boat, Arnold removes the bullet from his leg.

  This book taught me a lot about The Revolutionary War, but it was written in a dry tone, which made it slightly dull.