▁historical ▁fiction ▁novel ▁written ▁by ▁Edward ▁Ir ving ▁Wort is , ▁under ▁his ▁pen ▁name , ▁A vi . ▁The ▁book ▁is ▁about ▁the ▁dis ill usion ing ▁experience ▁of ▁a ▁young ▁te en ager ▁who ▁runs ▁away ▁to ▁fight ▁in ▁the ▁American ▁Revolution ary ▁War . ▁The ▁novel ▁covers ▁two ▁days , ▁ 3 ▁to ▁ 4 ▁April ▁ 1 7 7 8 . ▁ ▁The ▁Fight ing ▁Gr ound ▁won ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 5 ▁Scott ▁O ' D ell ▁Award ▁for ▁Historical ▁F iction ▁and ▁was ▁listed ▁on ▁the ▁A LA ' s ▁Notable ▁Children ' s ▁Books ▁list . ▁It ▁was ▁b anned ▁from ▁elementary ▁schools ▁in ▁Florida ' s ▁Bay ▁District ▁School s ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁for ▁containing ▁prof an ity . ▁ ▁Plot ▁summary ▁A ▁th ir teen - year - old ▁New ▁Jersey ▁boy ▁named ▁Jonathan ▁is ▁imp at ient ▁to ▁join ▁the ▁Revolution ary ▁War . ▁His ▁father ▁used ▁to ▁help ▁him ▁train , ▁but ▁now ▁after ▁returning ▁from ▁a ▁battle ▁with ▁a ▁w ound ▁in ▁his ▁leg , ▁he ▁is ▁fear ful ▁and ▁does ▁not ▁want ▁his ▁son ▁to ▁leave . ▁However , ▁when ▁the ▁war ▁bell ▁rings ▁on ▁ 3 ▁April ▁ 1 7 7 8 , ▁Jonathan ▁leaves ▁anyway . ▁He ▁bor rows ▁a ▁ta vern ▁owner ' s ▁gun ▁and ▁joins ▁a ▁morning - long ▁march ▁to ▁battle ▁German ▁H ess ians . ▁He ▁ends ▁up ▁being ▁taken , ▁prisoner . ▁The ▁H ess ians ▁take ▁him