Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: Major Impossible

This action-packed adventure graphic novel is book 9 in the series. It revolves around adventurer John Wesley Powell, who would come to be known as one of the most heroic adventurers in American History. As a young man, he wandered all over the United States exploring.

In 1869 he organized the Colorado River Exploring Expedition, ten men in four boats, one Grand Canyon. The story starts with an introduction of spy Nathan Hale, who was executed on September 22, 1776. Just before the hanging procedes, the hangman is hesitating because he won’t get any more stories if Hale is killed. Now, is it weird that I am finding humor in this? We know history, and we know that Nathan Hale died by hanging. And, he certainly, wasn’t telling the Provost and the Hangman true stories of American history, even though the novel blends fiction with nonfiction, it is genuinely entertaining. 

These books are bestsellers, and I can see why. Do these novels meet the Newbery criteria? Although enjoyable, probably not. This one was just released yesterday, I would like to ask our Heavy Medal Readers these questions

• Although the author does include a bibliography at the end of the book. Is it ok to take some points and the author’s version of the events?
• Do you think that it was in the best interest of the author to mention that John Wesley Powell’s father was an abolitionist? And the impact it had on his family?
• Do titles like Hazardous Tales carry any educational potential as demanded by the Newbery Terms and Criteria?

I’ll leave you with a quote at the end of the book:

“The wonders of the Grand Canyon cannot be adequately represented in symbols of speech, nor by speech itself. The resources of the graphic art are taxed beyond their powers in attempting to portray its features. Language and illustration combined must FAIL”

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