The End of the Ride and the Start of a War
Paul Revere’s ride ended at Lexington, where he was captured by British soldiers. (They let him go later.) Samual Prescott carried the word on to his hometown of Concord while the militia of Lexington gathered on the green at dawn of April 19, 1775, to face the British troops marching their way. The youngest member of that militia was the Johnathan Harrington, the piper.
Give us a song, Jon
they say
and I do
but how can I give them
a spray of notes
a wisp of melody
how can I give them somethings
none of us can hold?
When that dawn breaks
my tunes float out
into the chill gray air,
carrying the captains orders
to every soldier’s ear:
Gather here Stay together Stand fast
and I hope I’ve given them something
all of us can hold
The Night It All Began
Two hundred and fifty-one years ago today, a stable boy tore through the streets of Boston to bring a warning to Paul Revere. We don’t know the boy’s name or exactly what he said, but he was one of many who helped set a midnight ride into motion and set the stage for a brand-new country to arise.
When Paul Revere Rode tells the story of that night, and the very first poem in the book tells the story of that stable boy:
The patter of hooves
like the roll of a drum
like the thump of a heart
like a fist of the door
A good horse will run
like speed is his soul
and wind is an enemy
he can defeat
That’s how I run
through the alleys of Boston
cobble and brick
a track for my feet
to burst in the door
to be first with the news
for time is an enemy
speed can defeat:
The soldiers!
The Regulars!
They’re on the march!
Paul Revere Rides!
I’m happy to start 2026 off with two strong reviews for When Paul Revere Rode: Voices from the First Night of the American Revolution. Looking forward to seeing this book out in the world in April!
Kirkus Reviews says: “Thomson and Henderson’s unique collaboration fractures a historical moment usually attributed to one person into a broader variety of sixteen characters. Henderson’s textured illustrations beautifully evoke the low light of the evening ride, while Thomson’s fast-moving verse captures the night’s excitement….An innovative peek into the many small moments that led up to the American Revolution.”
And here’s School Library Journal: “The ghostly image of Paul Revere gallops across the cover of this intriguing title. Using voices from those who participated in Revere’s historic ride and the beginning of the American Revolution in one way or another, Thomson dramatically brings readers into the moment-by-moment drama of that fateful night…. As the evening progresses, readers are taken on a perilous journey from Boston to the impending ‘shot heard ‘round the world’ at Lexington and Concord. Along the way, readers will meet regular citizens, enslaved men, and notable names from American history….Gripping art and effective text place readers in the middle of this dramatic night in American history. Recommended.”
Read MoreArt Does Not Exist Without Creators
“The unlicensed use of creative works for training generative AI is a major, unjust threat to the livelihoods of the people behind those works, and must not be permitted.”
That says it all, really. Music, visual art, and the written word do not simple exist–they are created. Creators deserved to be paid and acknowledge for their work, something generative AI entirely fails to do.
If you are a writer, composter, illustrator, or another professional concerned with the creation of art in any form, please review and sign this petition. If you are a reader, listener, viewer, or someone who cares about living in a society that values and encourages creation, please read and learn more about what makes AI possible and why it’s a problem for writers like me.
Read MoreNew York Times Best Illustrated Books of 2024
Enjoy, revel, smile, and feel your emotions blossom as you check out the best illustrated books of the year as picked by the New York Times. This art is funny, poignant, adorable, and just plain irresistible.
(I used to live in New York…going to this exhibition is one of the things I miss. And the chilIquiles at Zarela’s.)
Read MoreLibraryCon Live, Take 2!
Delighted to introduce my fellow panelists for SLJ’s Library Con:
Gina Chew, author of Afterlife: The Boy Next Realm
Maple Lam, author of Monkey King and the World of Myth
Allison Saft, author of Wings of Starlight
Ngozi Ukazu, author of Barda
and our delightful moderator, Allison Denny!
So excited to be able to chat fantasy with these fine folks. Here is the full program for LibraryCon–check it out and join us on November 16th at 2:25!
LibraryCon Live! 2024
Oh my sainted aunt, I am so excited to receive an invite for School Library Journal‘s LibraryCon Live! I’ll be on a fantasy panel talking about my upcoming book, The Griffin’s Boy, on November 14th.
This book was a dearly beloved manuscript that spent ten years (yes, an entire decade) in a drawer because no editor anywhere found it remotely interesting, to my bafflement–it has a baby griffin and a miniature dragon in it; how could anybody be less than enchanted? To have it finally find a home with Peachtree book is balm to my soul, and to be able to talk about it on a panel with other fantasy writers–it just makes me giddy.
Sarah L. Thomson
A children’s book author publishing award-winning nonfiction, poetry, picture books and novels including…
“Thomson focuses on newfound connection, magic, and suspense to conjure a fast-paced, heartwarming mystery. Thomson’s world is populated by resourceful protagonists, fanciful creatures, and quirky supporting characters.”
—Publishers Weekly