Description

By Robert A. Lytle with Illustrations by Bill Williams

It’s late August, 1952. Fifteen-year-old Pete Jenkins joins his resort friends for an end-of-summer party. Dressed in pirate outfits, they board a small, but sturdy craft and head off to an uninhabited island where they will have a picnic, party and prizes. All these will be provided by long-time friend and cottage owner, Mr. Heuck, who will be dressed as Captain Hook like every other year.

In the distance Pete, Kate and Dan spy an antique, three-masted schooner and rush out to greet it to get a better look. Instead of a simple wave hello from what appears to be a group of history buffs, the kids are invited to board the ship. The friends soon find themselves captive and part of an enormous fleet of British, Canadian and Indian attackers headed for Fort Mackinac. The trio quickly discover they are among real invaders determined to return the newly established United States of America back to English hands. Their Make-believe social gathering in 1952 has become a real-life battle for survival in the War of 1812.