Need summer reading? Inspire patriotism, faith with ‘Revolutionary War Adventure’ series  

Did you know the first submarine ever used in combat was the American Turtle, which revolutionists employed against the British Royal Navy?  

You would have, if you’d read Robert Skead’s Revolutionary War Adventure series.  

Written for ages 8 to 12, the novels center on the Clark brothers who join the fight for liberty.  

In Patriots, Redcoats and Spies, published in 2015, the young Clark twins must deliver a message to George Washington after their father – the original courier – is injured.  

The sequel, Submarines, Secrets and a Daring Rescue, sees the boys working on the American Turtle while also trying to rescue their captured older brother.  

And in Links to Liberty, the brothers help defend West Point and the Hudson River from British troops.  

Now, the Clark twins are back in Dark Treason, a thrilling fourth installment centered on the betrayal of Benedict Arnold and his attempt to surrender West Point to the British.

Skead is a prolific children’s author, venturing across multiple genres, and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He used his real-life ancestor, Lamberton Clark, as an inspiration for the Revolutionary War book series.  

“I want readers to be inspired to do great things themselves as they read about the Clark twins facing situations that force them to be brave, resilient and creative,” he explained. “I hope readers will feel more patriotic and appreciate our freedoms more because they came at a great cost – the lives of brave men and women (and teens) who fought for them.”  

Skead also highlighted the Christian faith of the Americans who faced a daunting fight for freedom.  

“Imagine you’re a child or teen who has an important message to get to General Washington and no resources,” he told The Lion. “You’d certainly need to pray and have some element of faith inside you to go for it. That’s the dilemma and set up of the first story, so religion and faith came into the story naturally. 

“After all, our Founding Fathers believed virtuous citizens, based on religious principles, [were] essential to have a thriving republic. They fought and advocated for religious freedom, especially based on Judeo-Christian values, because they knew it was the best source of the moral character needed for a self-governing model to flourish.” 

Dark Treason and the other installments of the Revolutionary War Adventure series have received praise from all quarters for bringing history to life.  

Robert McDonald, a history professor at West Point, praised Dark Treason as “an action-packed adventure with a keen eye to historical detail.”  

“No other fiction writer does a better job than Robert Skead bringing to life the high-stakes heroism of the American Revolution,” he said.  

Historian Char Weigel, who serves as vice president at Revolutionary Westchester 250, also commended the novel.  

“Young readers engrossed in Dark Treason won’t realize they are also absorbing a carefully researched history lesson on a turning point of the Revolutionary War,” she wrote. “Skead uses their points of view to make a complex episode of American history understandable to young readers. 

“The choices and decisions the twins make as they navigate this highly charged moment in history send a subtle message that doing the right thing is not always easy but is always right.” 

Westchester County, New York, was the backdrop for many important events during the Revolutionary War, including the Battle of White Plains, the capture of British spy John André, and the unanimous vote for the Declaration of Independence.  

Skead’s novels have been praised by notable figures such as Patrick Robinson, co-author of Lone Survivor, and David Marquet, a former U.S. Submarine Commander and author of Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders. 

They’ve also received an average of 4.5 out of 5-star reviews on GoodReads and a majority of 5-star reviews on Amazon.  

Books such as Skead’s are more important than ever because of the decline in civics and American history education. A recent survey found 70% of modern-day Americans would fail a basic civic knowledge test, and less than two-thirds bother to vote in presidential elections. 

Midterm elections barely get 40% voter turnout. And only 22% of 8th graders are proficient in civics, according to the 2022 Nation’s Report Card.  

“Without this knowledge, young and old alike will fall for any idea that may sound attractive but be based on untruths,” Skead told The Lion. “Equally bad, it can create disengagement from our democratic process and create apathy as to one’s role in shaping a positive future in society for themselves and others.”  

He wrote the American Revolutionary War series for a middle-school audience because public schools usually teach the Revolutionary War in 4th, 5th or 6th grade.  

“I enjoy writing for this age group because readers are in those special years where I can tap into incredible growth and imagination,” he added. “It’s also a chance to inspire a love of reading and critical thinking.” 

Photos courtesy of Robert Skead.