“The Sixteen Aiken’s Rifles” is a novel that takes you on an emotional and historical journey. Set during the War of 1812, it follows sixteen boys from New England who fought at the Battle of Plattsburgh. These boys showed immense courage in the face of overwhelming odds, defending their homeland against a far superior British force. Their bravery was so extraordinary that, two years later, the U.S. Congress honored them with commemorative rifles, it’s an unusual gesture in American history.

The story captures their change from boys into men. Through the trials of war, they form bonds that go beyond friendship, and they become brothers in arms. The novel explores not just the battles they faced on the field but the inner battles they fought within themselves.

It’s a book about history and a story about humanity. I’ve always been drawn to stories that celebrate the strength of the human spirit, and this novel is no exception.