Christopher Hawkins and His Daring Escapes

An amazing true story of a young sailor during the American Revolution, for readers of all ages.
The Revolutionary War is raging, and 12-year-old Christopher Hawkins runs away to follow his dream of being a sailor and a patriot. During his first sea adventure, the British capture his ship. Quick-witted Christopher escapes at his first opportunity.
At 17, Christopher joins another American privateer ship but is soon captured by the British. This time, he is delivered to the notorious British ship HMS Jersey, the war's deadliest prison. Armed with only courage, cunning, and a sense of humor, Christopher Hawkins will face death unless he can escape from his British captors twice more.
"A rare book that brings history alive in the most exciting way—full of memorable characters and real-life, harrowing adventures!"
—Carol Cujec, award-winning author of REAL
This novel and tale of survival is adapted and expanded from author Becijos' great-great-great-great-grandfather's oft-quoted memoir, The Adventures of Christopher Hawkins.

EDITORIAL REVIEWS

CHRISTOPHER HAWKINS AND HIS DARING ESCAPES is a story of grit, determination, courage, and the indomitable will to survive. Jeanne Brownlee Becijos draws upon the experiences of her great-great-great-great grandfather to tell an absorbing tale about a young man's quest to fight for his country's freedom. Set in the latter half of the 18th century, Becijos's story brilliantly captures the prevailing mood of the ordinary folk of that era and crafts an immersive setting with realistic characters and a world that feels lived in.

Readers' Favorite, 5-star Review

This novelization is at turns harrowing and funny as its cycles of capture-and-escape gets twistier and ever-more surprising.

Publishers Weekly, BookLife Editor's Pick ??

The narrative is written in first person, paying homage to the original memoir it was inspired by; this diary-like format allows readers to truly experience the story as if it were happening to them.

Kirkus Reviews

Strong and determined characters are the strength of this novel, and readers will root for their success.

BookLife Prize, Top 5 of middle grade books for 2023 Fiction