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Smart Alecks Guide to American History

by Adam Selzer
384p. 978-0-38590-613-5.
COPY ISBN
Gr 8-Up In the style of acclaimed writers Jon Stewart ("The Daily Show") and Steven Colbert ("The Colbert Report"), this witty, comedic, and appealing volume abandons the world of historical dates and battles to fill in some of the gaps in young Americans' knowledge of their country's history. Readers learn of General Washington's rebellion against the "basic rules of boating safety" as well as encounter James K. Polk's mullet ("Business up front, party in the back, baby.") while benefiting greatly from the book's efficient presentation of pivotal themes and events such as the American Revolution, Civil War, and Civil Rights Movement. This clever and informative work follows a chronological arrangement from early exploration to the inauguration of President Barack Obama in January 2009. Each chapter concludes with a "Some of the Stuff We Missed" section, essay questions such as "Who was the bigger jerk, Hitler or Stalin?"; vocabulary words; and multiple choice "End-of-Chapter Questions" that range from "What do "you" think happened to those Croatoan guysand what gave you "that" idea?" to "What Civil War guy had the best nickname?" Small black-and-white photos and reproductions appear throughout. The companion Web site contains supplemental information, links to relevant documents and other sites, and "Assignment Alerts!" for further exploration. This informal approach is sure to appeal to even the most reluctant of readers."Brian Odom, Pelham Public Library, AL" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.
Full of attitude and impertinence, this book encourages students to question their textbooks and challenge their teachers on everything from the early explorers to the Obama election. The fresh, edgy text combines with archival images and photographs to provide a thought-provoking presentation of American history. Quirky captions, humorous sidebars, silly quizzes, and ridiculous puzzles add to the fun.
Well researched and informative, as well as entertaining and irreverent—and even laugh-out-loud funny. Filled with memorable and obscure details. Successfully debunks many myths, such as the story that America nearly adopted German as its official language.

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