George Washington: Hero of the American Revolution

Gr 4–8—By examining people closely involved in the American Revolution, these titles go beyond accounts of battles to probe the social and philosophical underpinnings of the conflict. Although many libraries will have individual biographies of these four figures, looking at their lives as they converged during the Revolutionary period does offer a focused and unique point of view. The format of the books makes them easy to read and digest. Paragraphs are spaced out, with subheadings over each chunk of text. The narratives are interspersed with images, which include historical drawings, paintings, engravings, and maps, as well as some contemporary photographs of monuments and locations. The authors state what is verifiable and note when historical accounts disagree. Sidebar questions in "What Do You Think?" boxes encourage readers to come up with their own ideas, especially about areas where historians must use conjecture. "What Do You Know?" boxes define terms used in the text that may be unfamiliar to some readers. Time lines, major-events lists, and "People at the Time" boxes also give readers extra support in understanding the context of the period. The research presented is not new, but libraries with a strong demand for this subject area will appreciate these series titles' fresh approach and format.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA