Danger in Disguise

Kristin Butcher writes novels for young adults. Her most recent works
are The Tomorrow Tunnel (shortlisted for the 1999 CLA Book of the Year)
and The Runaways (regional winner of the 1998 OLA Silver Birch Award).

For as long as Jamie Macpherson can remember, he and his father have
been living as fugitives. But what they’re running from, Jamie
doesn’t know—at least not until the evening of his 14th birthday
when a warning from a friend sets them fleeing again. But this time,
Jamie is to travel alone and meet up with his father later. Little does
Jamie realize that he is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
His attempts to stay one step ahead of his father’s enemies take him
from France to Scotland, then on to England and finally New France
during the Siege of Quebec. A Scot with French ties, Jamie is
press-ganged into the English navy and forced to choose sides in a
foreign war. Suddenly everyone is against him, and if his father’s
enemies don’t kill him, there’s a good chance the navy will.

Espionage, mystery, and nonstop suspense abound in this adventure
story, and though Danger in Disguise takes place in 1759, at no time
does the setting become more important than the plot. A map at the front
of the book and a glossary at the back provide assistance for readers
unfamiliar with the geography and vocabulary of the era. The book’s
only drawback is the cover art. Amateurish and unappealing, the
watercolor collage is likely to deter young readers from an enjoyable
reading experience. This is one book that should not be judged by its
cover. Highly recommended.