Shadow Fox

Plot summary

A walk in the Black Forest for twins Jacob and Erin turns into an adventure through time when they meet Shadow, a red fox with an unusual set of talents. They are welcomed to his underground laboratory, Hora Cella, and witness the power of Nikola Tesla's time travel device, the Wall of Light.

On their first journey through the Wall of Light, they travel to Boston in 1775, to help Paul Revere and the Sons of Liberty spread the word that British Redcoats are on the march. Shadow has discovered seven gaps in the story of Paul Revere's midnight ride. If those gaps are not filled, the American Revolution may never be fought, and liberty as we know it will cease to exist.

Travel through time with them and follow Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott, ordinary men who choose to act for the cause of liberty. Meet Dr. Joseph Warren, one of the leaders of the Sons of Liberty, as he sets the famous ride in motion. Watch Robert Newman and John Pulling as they attempt to place signal lanterns in the steeple of the Old North Church. But, look out for Pratt! If he has his way, you could become trapped in a time when King George III rules, and there is no liberty and justice for all.

Characters

The novel features both fictional and historical characters.

Shadow Fox - The protagonist. Shadow is the main character. He is a red fox whose abilities were created through an accidental meeting with Nikola Tesla. Nikola's real-life laboratory in Colorado Springs was the site of an amazing electrical experiment in 1899. Residents from as far away as Cripple Creek reported hearing a man-made lightning bolt generated at the laboratory, and the experiments shorted out the dynamo at the El Paso County power station causing a blackout. This real experiment was used in the book to transform Shadow from a normal fox to one with extraordinary abilities, including the ability to think like Nikola Tesla, and control electricity.

Erin Fraser - Erin is 12 years old and Jacob's twin sister. She lives 'present day' in the Black Forest of Colorado near Fox Run Park. Her love of horseback riding comes in handy as she works with Shadow and Jacob to help Paul Revere.

Jacob Fraser - Jacob is 12 years old, and like his father he is an inventor. He invented the "Fraser-matic Eavesdropper" from nothing more than pie pans and twine. It allows the user to listen in on conversations from long distances.

Pratt - The antagonist. Colonel Pratt was expelled from the British military and as punishment for crimes against the crown he was condemned to live among the people of Boston who he had mistreated for many years. Pratt tries to capture Shadow, Erin, and Jacob, and ultimately stop the Sons of Liberty to win back the favor of General Thomas Gage.

Junior and Runt - Nicknames for two fictional Redcoats. Both are large, imposing, but often bumbling British soldiers that chase after Shadow, Erin, and Jacob, and also stand in Pratt's way. Erin and Jacob nickname them Junior and Runt.

Mr. & Mrs. Fraser - Mr. and Mrs. Fraser are the parents of Erin and Jacob. Mr. Fraser is an inventor on the verge of a big sale to an investor. Mrs. Fraser is a competitive horseback rider. They live near Fox Run Park in the Black Forest of Colorado, and have a barn with two horses (Rosie and Violet) and a workshop where Mr. Fraser works with Jacob.

Historical

Nikola Tesla - Serbian-American electrical engineer and inventor who patented the [AC] induction motor used by George Westinghouse in his AC electrical system. Tesla also experimented with wireless power transmission and communication, x-rays, remote control, and numerous other devices. He built his Colorado Springs laboratory in 1899, and conducted experiments that would seem to leap straight from the pages of a fiction book. One of his experiments, the generation of a large man-made lightning bolt, is used in the Shadow Fox: Sons of Liberty journal entry. This experiment is used in the book as the origin of Shadow Fox. Nikola also envisioned a way to travel through space and time, calling it the Wall of Light. The Wall of Light is used to travel through time in the book.

Paul Revere - Paul was a silversmith, goldsmith, engraver, husband, father, and express rider for the Sons of Liberty. He was dispatched along with William Dawes by Dr. Joseph Warren to Lexington the night of April 18, 1775. His task was to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams that a large number of Redcoats were on their way. He departed Boston, rowing across the Charles River (two if by sea) with the help of two others, and rode into our history books on the back of a beautiful mare named Brown Beauty. The horse was borrowed from a Charlestown man named Deacon Larkin, who had borrowed the horse from his father. Paul's ride was distinguished in that he warned people along the way to Lexington, not by yelling "The British are coming," but rather alerting people that he knew that the Redcoats were on the march. The second half of Paul's mission that night was to ride with Dawes to Concord to warn them. He never made it. Paul was captured on the way there and held at gunpoint. He would later be released after gunshots were heard at Lexington Green. Paul's ride, though extremely brave and incredibly important, was glorified beyond recognition in Longfellow's poem, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere". In the poem he was portrayed as a lone rider.

William Dawes - Dawes was the lesser-known rider the night of April 18, 1775. Dawes arrived in Lexington close the same time as Paul, but did not warn as many people (if anyone) along the way. He exhibited the same brave spirit as Paul, but his absence from Longfellow's poem relegated him to a footnote in many historical texts. Dawes was at the capture location along with Paul Revere and Samuel Prescott, but managed to escape the Redcoats.

Samuel Prescott - Samuel Prescott was out visiting his fiancee when he came upon Revere and Dawes. They were on their way to Concord by this time, which was where Samuel was headed. He was a high Son of Liberty, and was eager to help spread the alarm. When they came upon British Redcoats in the road he charged them along with Revere and Dawes, but they were badly outnumbered. Samuel Prescott jumped his horse over a stone fence and rode off into the woods. He escaped his pursuers, and arrived at Concord to deliver the final alarm that night. Based on his word, the alarm spread throughout the countryside and by mid-day on the 19th, men from all over the area showed up at the North bridge to push the British back to Boston.

Samuel Adams - Political leader of the Whigs in Boston. Samuel Adams was considered the greatest creator of propaganda for the rebel cause. He wrote numerous pamphlets inciting and inspiring the revolution.

John Hancock - One of the wealthiest men in Boston and a leader of the Sons of Liberty.

Doctor Joseph Warren - One of the leaders of the Sons of Liberty in Boston. Dr. Warren sent Paul Revere and William Dawes on the midnight ride.

Thomas Gage - British General and military governor of Boston during the occupation.

Lord Percy and Francis Smith - British commanding officers at the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

Robert Newman, Thomas Bernard, and John Pulling - Thomas stood guard while Robert and John raised the lanterns in the steeple of the Old North Church.