The Life of a Colonial Soldier

Gr 3–5—These series titles provide glimpses into the lives of ordinary people as they perform their respective duties. The fictionalized stories have a factual basis. Although the authors note, "We have used the best available historical scholarship on the professions and daily life in colonial America," no sources are listed. The books are successful in describing the specifics of particular occupations, such as how wigmakers procured hair, styled it into intricate designs, and managed their customers' grooming needs. As stories, however, the books lack development. Beyond the descriptions of daily life, there is little to make readers care about the individual characters. Snippets of historical information are presented without background or context. The illustrations appear to be digitally produced and colored. The lack of artfulness in the renderings makes the people look robotic and lifeless. Children studying the period may be drawn to the graphic-novel approach, but these narratives will not sustain their interest.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA