Secret of the Red Drum is really an exciting story, with a young male protaginist. It takes place in Haiti in 1802, which is after that country freed itself. However, the return of warships from France signals new terror for the people of Haiti. The freed slaves have every intention of staying that way, lawless elements intend to loot and destroy, and good people both black and white get caught up in incredibly dangerous situations. Talking drums and cult-like voodoo training finely tune the story.

The cover, however, of the Young Pioneer Book paperback I have has a quite incorrect, and lurid illustration of what appear to be African warriors - feathers in their hair, long spears, toga-type garments...when in the book it plainly says they were armed with machetes. ( )