Lieutenant James FitzGibbon, an almost forgotten hero of the War of 1812, is the kind of larger-than-life figure whose daring exploits can make history come alive for today’s young readers. With a band of 50 British soldiers, called the Green Tigers or Bully Boys, he roamed the Niagara Peninsula, keeping most of the much larger American force penned up in Fort George. Since his force was small, his most effective weapons were trickery and mobility. In need of information, he walked into the American-held fort disguised as a peddler. To acquire much-needed supplies, he led a handful of men in a midnight raid on an army depot on the U.S. side of the Niagara. The beleaguered settlers saw him as a Robin Hood figure, suddenly swooping down to save their supplies, even their farms, from marauding bands of enemy soldiers.

Prolific, award-winning YA author Eric Walters provides an eyewitness account of FitzGibbon’s exploits through his protagonist, 14-year-old farm boy Thomas Roberts, who is forced to hide out with the Green Tigers after he helps FitzGibbon stop two American soldiers from pillaging the general store. Tommy’s familiarity with farm paths makes him a valuable scout and provides a believable reason for his presence at the battle of Beaver Dams.

Although there is very little character development, this straightforward action story takes readers to the centre of some decisive, exciting moments that shaped Canada’s future. A map helps readers visualize FitzGibbon’s excursions. A more detailed historical note, placing the Niagara battles in the larger context of the War of 1812, would have helped readers grasp the full import of FitzGibbon’s exploits and why they mattered.