Ain't Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry
*Starred Review* Not many history books are written in first person, but this is no ordinary history book. It traces a historian’s quest for the man behind the legend of John Henry. Nelson’s research involved listening to hundreds of variants of the song “John Henry,” learning about post–Civil War railway construction projects, visiting possible sites for the legendary contest between man and steam drill, and in one groundbreaking moment, glancing at the 1910 postcard on his desktop, hearing the lyrics of a version of “John Henry” in his mind, and making a connection that no other modern historian had considered. Based on Nelson’s Steel Drivin’ Man: John Henry, the Untold Story of an American Legend (2006), this large-format volume retells the story for young people. Many period photos, paintings, and engravings, reproduced in shades of rust and sepia, are shown to good advantage in this handsomely designed book. Appendixes include suggestions for further reading and Nelson’s notes on his sources and on the “John Henry” song variants, as well as the ongoing search for information about John Henry. Marc Aronson contributes a section on “How to Be a Historian,” using Nelson’s search as a model. A lively, insightful introduction to the active pursuit of history. Grades 6-9. --Carolyn Phelan