The Year of the Hangman
By: Gary Blackwood
Primary Setting
New Orleans and Florida
1777
Main Conflict
Creighton is trying to figure out which country he is loyal to.
Main Characters
Creighton
Creates main conflict
Ben Franklin
Gave Creighton shelter and a place to work in the colonies.
Colonel Gower
Influenced Creighton's decisions
The Beginning
Event #1
Creighton gets kidnapped outside of a tavern in England. His mom planned the abduction because he was constantly stealing from her and had bad behavior. (Chapter 1)
Event #2
The boat that Creighton was on, with his uncle, got bombed by some Americans. He told an American pirate, Peter, that he is Gower's servant. This made Peter, and the other pirates on board, realize that Creighton wasn't a British supporter, so they took him to the colonies. (Chapters 4-5)
Event #3
Creighton has now arrived in New Orleans, at Ben Franklin's home. He is provided a shelter in return for work. Creighton has to work in Franklin's printing press by checking for errors in the types. (Chapter 7)
Contribution to Conflict
These events contribute to the main conflict because they cause Creighton to question which side he is really on. He would've never even thought of being loyal to Americans if he were never shipped over. These three events help Creighton realize that the British weren't really the "good side" in the war.
The Middle
Event #1
Ben Franklin gave Creighton a copy of Poor Richard's Almanac to read for fun at night. When Creighton found the Liberty Tree in the printing press, he finds it written in code. By using the almanac, Creighton is able to decipher this code. (Chapters 10-11)
Event #2
Creighton is in a tavern with Peter and Benedict Arnold. They tell Creighton about what really happened to his dad. He was not hung by Americans, but was shot in war. (Chapter 12)
Event #3
Ben Franklin's printing press caught on fire. He didn't want any of the irreplaceable types to be lost in the fire. Franklin insists that he and Creighton enter the burning building to try to save these types. Because of Ben's injuries, which were crushed ribs and burnt limbs, he dies. (Chapters 15-16)
Contribution to Conflict
These events contribute to the main conflict because Creighton is wondering what he should really do. Should he tell his uncle what the code says? Should he just keep it a secret that he knows what the code means? Creighton feels like he is "half-British" and "half-American."
The End
Event #1
After Creighton is able to decipher yet another American code, he asks Arnold what some of the numbers mean. They went to the jail cell where they think Washington could be being kept captive. Instead of finding George, they find a different, unexpected prisoner. His name was Harry Brown, Creighton's father. (Chapter 21)
Event #2
Peter helps the three escape out of the British prison. They arrive in the colonies later. When they arrive, they find the printing press rebuilt and Sophie inside. She offered them to stay with her in Franklin's home. (Chapter 23)
Event #3
Creighton became a gentleman. (Chapter 23)
Conflict Resolution
These last few events helped resolve the conflict that Creighton was facing. He finally realized that he was most likely loyal to America. He knows that his uncle, Colonel Gower, wasn't the best person because he faced his own nephew in a duel. Creighton knew he was loyal to America after these events.