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The American Revolution: Courage episode artwork

Jun 15, 2026 32 min

The American Revolution: Courage

from Cross Word Books Hosted by Michele McAloon

Send us Fan Mail bookclues.com. Find Michele American Revolution | Historical Fiction | Thomas Paine | George Washington | Revolutionary War What does courage look like when you don't feel brave? George Washington “vaccinated” soldiers by giving them smallpox on purpose, and it may have saved the Revolution. That jaw-dropping history is just one of the realities we dig into with author Katherine Goodwin Tone as we explore her debut novel, The King’s Broad Arrow, an American Revolution adventure that doubles as a coming-of-age story about courage. In this episode of Cross Word Books, we speak about Sam Nevins, a 14-year-old boy living in Revolutionary-era Maine who believes he's the only person with no desire to fight and no courage to offer. Through Sam's journey, we explore how courage is often less about personality and more about the choices we make when fear would rather send us home. Drawing on years of working with children and teaching, Katherine discusses themes of responsibility, friendship, happiness, and moral growth. We also dive into the world of Revolutionary America, exploring the impact of the printing press, censorship, banned books, Enlightenment thought, and the influence of Thomas Paine and his famous pamphlet Common Sense. If you enjoy historical fiction, young adult novels, American Revolution history, or thoughtful conversations with authors, this episode is for you. Cross Word Books — Where Cultural Clues Lead to the Truth of the Word.

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Send us Fan Mail bookclues.com. Find Michele American Revolution | Historical Fiction | Thomas Paine | George Washington | Revolutionary War What does courage look like when you don't feel brave? George Washington “vaccinated” soldiers by giving them smallpox on purpose, and it may have saved the Revolution. That jaw-dropping history is just one of the realities we dig into with author Katherine Goodwin Tone as we explore her debut novel, The King’s Broad Arrow, an American Revolution a...

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The American Revolution: Courage

0:00 32:06

Chapters

  1. 0:08 Meet The Book And Its Hero
  2. 1:14 Teaching Kids Philosophy Through Story
  3. 3:51 The King’s Broad Arrow Explained
  4. 5:38 Washington’s Risky Smallpox Inoculation
  5. 9:10 Enlightenment Ideas And The Printing Press
  6. 15:06 Banned Books And Power Over Ideas
  7. 20:45 Courage As Choices Not A Trait
  8. 23:47 Why Washington Earns Admiration
  9. 25:33 Sequels, Eamon, And Boyhood Friendship
  10. 27:20 Where To Buy And Who It’s For
  11. 29:01 Patriotism, Contradictions, And Closing Thoughts

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How long is this episode of Cross Word Books?

This episode is 32 minutes long.

When was this Cross Word Books episode published?

This episode was published on June 15, 2026.

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