[Read by Traber Burns] Between 1819 and 1845, as veterans of the Revolutionary War were filing applications to receive pensions for their service, the government was surprised to learn that many of the soldiers were not men but boys, many of whom were under the age of sixteen and some even as young as nine. In Boy Soldiers, Caroline Cox reconstructs the lives and stories of this young subset of early American soldiers, focusing on how these boys came to join the army and what they actually did in service. Giving us a rich and unique glimpse into colonial childhood, Cox traces the evolution of youth in American culture in the late eighteenth century. ''Vividly re-creating both the lived experience and shifting cultural significance of boy soldiers, Caroline Cox offers a rich account of what military service meant to boys and those around them. Persuasive and effective, this book will become the standard work on boy soldiers in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.'' --Corinne T. Field, University of Virginia '' Boy Soldiers of the American Revolution explores, both narratively and analytically, questions surrounding the service of boys in the Continental army during the Revolutionary period. The stories are wonderful, and they leap out of the chapters to help make the period come alive. This book is a testament to Cox's prowess as a scholar.'' --Holly Brewer, University of Maryland ''Narrator Traber Burns skillfully uses his deep voice in reading this fascinating account of boys who were under age 16 when they enlisted in the American struggle for independence from Great Britain. Cox uses records of pension applications as her springboard to recount the experiences of particular veterans, fleshing out her narrative of these boy soldiers' experiences with letters, memoirs, and other sources that paint a picture of boys who had to quickly grow into manhood. Burns's delivery is controlled and clear, moving at a steady pace that is easy to follow. He provides just the right amount of inflection to keep listeners interested in the text while still being faithful to the nature of this somewhat academic work.'' -- AudioFile ''Expertly detail[s] the social fabric of the founding era. . . . Highly recommended for readers interested in the American Revolution and children's history, as well as those seeking a different perspective on why people fight in wars.'' -- Library Journal , starred review Caroline Cox (1954 - 2014) joined the University of the Pacific faculty in 1998 and was recognized with many teaching awards over the course of her tenure, including the University's Distinguished Faculty Award. She also served as interim dean of College of the Pacific and in a variety of other leadership capacities. Dr. Cox authored A Proper Sense of Honor: Service and Sacrifice in George Washington's Army; The Fight to Survive: A Young Girl, Diabetes, and the Discovery of Insulin; and Boy Soldiers: War and Society in the American Revolution.