• Age: 12 to 15
• Grade: 7 to 10
• Reading age: 12 to 15

In 1812, a 67-year-old black United Empire Loyalist named Richard Pierpoint helped raise "a corps of Coloured Men to stand and fight together" against the Americans who were threatening to invade the tiny British colony of Upper Canada.

Pierpoint’s unique fighting unit would not only see service throughout the War of 1812, it would also be the first colonial military unit reactiviated to quash the Rebellion of 1837. It would go on to serve as a police force, keeping the peace among the competing Irish immigrant gangs during the construction of the Welland Canal.

Pierpoint and the Coloured Corps are the central focus, but the sidebars featuring fascinating facts about the rise and fall of slavery in North America and the state of African-Canadians in early Canada provide an entertaining and informative supplement. Among other tidbits, readers will find out why "Good Queen Bess" launched the British slave industry and how Scottish pineapples are connected to the American Declaration of Independence.

STEVE PITT has been a freelance writer for nearly 30 years, specializing in parenting issues and children`s book reviewing. A recipient of a national award for humour, he is the author of Guyness: Deal with it body and soul, Teasing: Deal with it before the joke`s on you and Rain Tonight: A Tale of Hurricane Hazel. He lives with his family in Toronto.

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This book would be extremely helpful if you were doing a report on black military units or on the slave trade.

To Stand and Fight Together is an excellent resource for young readers looking too supplement standard curriculum offerings on the War of 1812 or life in Upper Canada in general. It will also help students doing research on early Canadian attitudes to race, both in the military and in society as a whole.

Paul Challen

Spilling with fascinating facts and photos, this book celebrates the bravery of a small group of men and faced terrible discrimination in their battle for freedom.

Brenda Hoerle

I recommend Pitt’s book to young readers, based on its portrayal of slavery, black life in early Upper Canada and blacks in the military.

To Stand and Fight Together is a good read. A timeline and a list of useful websites round out a very interesting book, which also includes numerous sidebars on fascinating facts and the origins of words connected with the subject.

Cheryl MacDonald