Liberty or Death: The American Revolution: 1763-1783 (American Story)
Grade 2-6–Picking up after the end of the French and Indian Wars, whereStruggle for a Continent(HarperCollins, 2000) left off, the Maestros continue with the 20 years leading up to, and fighting, the American Revolution. A simple narrative, largely from the Colonists' perspective, touches on the major events, players, and ideas of the times, beginning with the Stamp Act and ending with Yorktown and the subsequent peace treaty. Much of the text is taken up with military encounters and strategies; campaigns, generals, and soldiers are kept relatively straight, often with the help of numerous clear maps (though there's no initial delineation of the 13 colonies). Full-color ink, colored-pencil, and watercolor illustrations–from small portrait ovals to full-spread scenarios–are also helpful; they grace the page in a pleasing, uncluttered way. Packing that much history into 64 pages means, of course, that some complexity, detail, and depth are lost. While some misconceptions are cleared up–Paul Revere's non-solo ride, Bunker/Breed's Hill–more explanation could sometimes relieve a bit of confusion. No sources are cited. Nonetheless, this book serves as a good introductory overview. The visual appeal, straightforward narrative, and large format make it accessible to audiences not ready for Joy Hakim'sFrom Colonies to Country(Oxford, 2002) or Benson Bobrick'sFight for Freedom(S & S, 2004). Rosalyn Schanzer'sGeorge vs. George(National Geographic, 2004) is a more engaging and explanatory social and political history of the time, but lacks the more complete military coverage found here.–Nancy Palmer, The Little School, Bellevue, WACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.