In Above the Trenches, author-illustrator Nathan Hale takes to the skies with the flying aces of World War I to reveal another Hazardous Tale in American history in the #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novel series.

When the Great War began in 1914, America had plans to stay out of it. But some young men were so eager to fight, they joined the French Foreign Legion. From deep in the mud and blood of the Western Front, these young volunteers looked to the sky and saw the future—the airplane.

The first American pilots to fight in World War One flew for the French military. France created a squadron of volunteer Americans called the Lafayette Escadrille (named after the great Marquis de Lafayette).

This book is about that volunteer squadron: How they got into the French military. How they learned to fly. How they fought—and died. And how these American pilots would go down in history with other legendary flying aces like the Red Baron.

From author-illustrator Nathan Hale, the New York Times bestselling creator of the Hazardous Tales series, comes Let’s Make History, an exciting activity book that puts kids’ writing, drawing, and researching to the test! Do you have what it takes to be a Hazardous Cartoonist?

Make your own way through history! Readers will tackle 71 comic-creating challenges, with help from some of their favorite characters from the series! With each challenge, young cartoonists will learn new skills, from sound effects and character creation to building their own 10-page comic. The fun and imaginative drawing prompts will get kids writing their own thrilling, shocking, gruesome, and totally true histories!

Discover the Korean War through the eyes of the journalist who covered it in this installment of the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series

In 1950, Marguerite Higgins (1920–1966) was made bureau chief of the Far East Asia desk for the New York Herald Tribune. Tensions were high on the Korean peninsula, where a border drawn after WWII split the country into North and South. When the North Korean army crossed the border with Soviet tanks, it was war. Marguerite was there when the Communists captured Seoul. She fled with the refugees heading south, but when the bridges were blown over the Han River, she was trapped in enemy territory. Her eyewitness account of the invasion was a newspaper smash hit. She risked her life in one dangerous situation after another––all for the sake of good story. Then she was told that women didn’t belong on the frontlines. The United States Army officially ordered her out of Korea. She appealed to General Douglas MacArthur, and he personally lifted the ban on female war correspondents, which allowed her the chance to report on many of the major events of the Korean War.

"Beyond Higgins’ personal, gripping story, Hale coherently and accurately conveys the factors that led to the Korean War, the political gambling by the U.S. and the Soviet Union, and battle strategies. . .Exciting reportorial derring-do." ―Kirkus Reviews

The Louisiana Purchase (1803) is today seen as one of history’s greatest bargains. But why did Napoleon Bonaparte sell this seemingly prosperous territory? At the time, France controlled Haiti, and there, enslaved Africans were used to harvest sugar. But in 1791, Toussaint Louverture led the largest uprising of enslaved people in human history, the Haitian Revolution (1791–1804). Napoleon had originally wanted to use Louisiana for trade, but with Haiti out of his control, Napoleon’s dream of making a French empire in North America seemed doomed. So when Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe tried to buy New Orleans, Napoleon sold them the whole Louisiana Territory.

John Wesley Powell always had the spirit of adventure in him. As a young man, he traveled all over the United States exploring. When the Civil War began, Powell went to fight for the Union, and even after he lost most of his right arm, he continued to fight until the war was over. In 1869, he embarked with the Colorado River Exploring Expedition—ten men in four boats—to float through the Grand Canyon. Over the course of three months, the explorers lost their boats and supplies, nearly drowned, and were in peril on multiple occasions. Ten explorers went in, but only six came out. Powell would come to be known as one of the most epic explorers in history!

Gilbert du Motier became the Marquis de Lafayette at a young age, but he was not satisfied with the comforts of French nobility—he wanted adventure!

A captain at eighteen and a major general by nineteen, he was eager to prove himself in battle. When he heard about the Revolution going on in America, he went overseas and fought alongside Alexander Hamilton and George Washington for America’s independence.

From School Library Journal

Gr 4–7—About-to-be-executed spy Nathan Hale entertains his captors and readers by telling stories about U.S. history in this popular graphic novel series. In this installment, Hale returns to the setting of the American Revolution to focus on the early life of French aristocrat and Revolutionary War hero Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Young, passionate about the American cause, and endearing, Lafayette was accepted into the Continental Army when other French officers were rejected, because of his humility and willingness to learn (and because he was well connected and his wealth meant that he didn't require a salary). George Washington took him under his wing, and Lafayette's loyalty to the commander-in-chief saved Washington from a plot to remove him from command. The narrative pauses for an eight-page mini-comic about Benedict Arnold, the notorious traitor. Newcomers to the series are given enough context in the first few pages to figure out the dynamic among the Provost, Hangman, and Hale and will soon feel in on the jokes in the meta commentary. As has become customary in the "Hazardous Tales," accurate historical facts are made fun and palatable through the action-packed graphic format and a humorous lens. VERDICT A must-buy.–Kacy Helwick, New Orleans Public Library

Review

**STARRED REVIEW**
"Newcomers to the series are given enough context in the first few pages to figure out the dynamic among the Provost, Hangman, and Hale and will soon feel in on the jokes in the meta commentary. As has become customary in the “Hazardous Tales,” accurate historical facts are made fun and palatable through the action-packed graphic format and a humorous lens . . . A must-buy."

(School Library Journal)

"Hale does a tremendous job of telling the complicated story of one of the most celebrated men in history with facts and figures interspersed throughout the often humorous and informative narrative. His intricately drawn panels are beautifully colored . . . His precise linework and neat lettering make the multitude of thought and speech balloons in the easy-to-read panels. History lovers and comics readers alike will thoroughly enjoy this story of Lafayette and his quest for victory."
(Booklist)

"Hale (the author) yet again weaves a delightful and engaging narrative sprinkled with silly and scatalogical humor . . . Fans of history, Hamilton, and/or Hale's previous entries will be clamoring for this latest volume."(Kirkus Reviews)

The tale of Nathan Hale's heroic, but doomed adventure spying against the British.

This is the first book in the series, where we meet our Narrators, Hale, the Provost, and the Hangman.

A bombastic war of technology, right in the middle of the Civil War. Who can build the bigger, badder war ship? And more importantly, who can build one fastest? It's a race between inventors. It's bombs, torpedoes and iron armor. And in the middle of it all, William Cushing, the Civil War's biggest prankster. Big Bad Ironclad!

The worst family road trip ever.

Everyone knows about the grisly end of the Donner Party. But how did they get stuck in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the first place? What choices brought them to such a horrible end? Did anyone survive? And if they did, how?

A staggering tale of survival during the Westward Expansion.

1914-1918, The Great War. A concise, cartoon overview of the entire mess. A favorite among the more military-minded readers of the series. Nominated for 2015 Eisner, Best-Reality-Related Work.

"A killer combination of history and jokes and comics and weirdness"

    --Jon Scieszka

"And yes, little children, there will be blood."

    --New York Times

Araminta Ross was born a slave in Delaware. After years of backbreaking labor, she escaped and traveled north to freedom. Follow in the footsteps of one of the most daring leaders of the Underground Railroad--just don't read the back of this book, there's a SPOILER!

A #1 New York Times bestseller, and Eisner nominated for both Best Publication for Kids, and Best Writer/Artist.

Remember the Alamo!

The rallying cry has been part of Texas history for generations. But what exactly, should we remember?

Jim Bowie, David Crockett, Juan Seguin, and of course Stephen Austin and Sam Houston, all star in the tale of the Texas Revolution. It's action-packed and complicated.

Alamo All Stars spent 32 weeks on the New York Times Graphic Hardcover bestseller list.

1942, the United States is reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Army Air Corps joins forces with the Navy to create a top secret plan, a bombing raid unlike any raid ever planned. Sixteen bombers set out. How many will return?

The first WWII story in the Hazardous Tales series.

What happens when a couple of prehistoric creatures want to become Internet stars? Trilobite and Amber (a walking whale) dream of fame and fortune. They don’t realize that most of the world thinks that they’re extinct. When a wandering paleo-newscaster introduces them to the world of internet videos, they hop at the chance to get behind the camera.

The competition for internet fame will be fierce—Trilobite and Amber will face off against ancient sea creatures, talking cacti, floating cat heads, and more! Friendships will be tested, allies will be made, and cameras will be smashed! Our heroes will have to use all of their newfound skills when they find themselves competing in an all-out video-making battle royale!

"Hale positively revels in the weirdness of his premise. The two-color orange palette he uses adds to the surrealistic feeling of the illustrations . . . A well-balanced mix of sci-fi, horror, and humor."

(Kirkus Reviews)

"Perfect for fans of weird fiction, with a visual style that will appeal to fans of horror comics."

(Booklist)

"Hale has done it again—another graphic novel that offers a terrific blend of the eerie and the humorous that will captivate new readers and delight dedicated fans."

(School Library Journal)

"Hale imbues his latest with pathos, action, and perfectly timed moments of comedy, but it’s the imaginative landscape, spot-on visual pacing, and confident line work that make this adventure tale really zing."

(Booklist)
 

"The aliens themselves are visu-ally exceptional—huge, gluttonous, and oozing privilege in both their actions and their physical presentations."

(Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)
 

"Set in a land that blends Stone Age elements and highly advanced technology, this graphic novel adventure features the same mix of humor and derring-do that makes Hale’s “Hazardous Tales” so popular."

(School Library Journal)
 

"Hale blends adventure, aliens, an apocalyptic future, and folklore into an easy-to-read stand-alone."

(Kirkus)
 

" The story combines an exciting science fiction plot with down-to-earth teenage characters...The real allure to the work is the use of different kinds of lines used to build textures, provide atmosphere, and portray characters."

(School Library Connection)
 

"With an engaging, racially diverse cast this high-stakes epic adventure should have wide appeal...Hale shepherds this complex narrative with the same sure hand as his graphic novel series of real stories from history."

(Horn Book Magazine)
 

"Hale’s illustrations are textured and visually move the story forward, while his original storyline effortlessly combines aliens, adventure, and apocalyptic fun."

(VOYA)
 

"While beautifully concise, it still manages to squeeze in loads of suspense, chills (though nothing too nightmare-inducing), action and entertaining character dynamics — all within a refreshingly original take on post-apocalyptic hellscapes."

(New York Times Book Review)

Written by powerhouse duo Shannon and Dean Hale (no relation) this is Rapunzel as you've never seen her! Full color artwork by Nathan Hale.

The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after.

    –New York Public Library (starred review)

Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers.

    -Booklist

Rapunzel is back and so is Jack! The sequel to Shannon and Dean Hale's Rapunzel's Revenge!

"Nathan Hale's artwork again places the action in a fairy-tale version of the American West, now with the city as backdrop. His character sketches are delightfully expressive, and the book has the same rich palette as the previous story. It should satisfy readers who enjoy adventure, fairy tales, and anyone who loves a rogue."

    --School Library Journal

"144 pages of rip-roaring storytelling in which the familiar fairy-tale is hugely extended, gathering in its sweep all kinds of echoes from Wild West and Super-hero films as well as other fairy-stories"

    --The School Librarian