Fight for Freedom: The American Revolutionary War
Grade 4-8–Bobrick does an admirable job of describing the American Revolution in fewer than 100 pages, half of which are pictures. Each spread covers a separate topic, with a page of text and sidebar of "Quick Facts" facing a full-page illustration. Topics include origins of the conflict, individual battles, profiles of generals from both sides, the Continental Congresses, Loyalists, and the role of women. The illustrations, primarily reproductions of period prints or later paintings of the events described, include maps of two battles and a map of the Colonies showing the locations of all the battles mentioned in the text. This title compares favorably with Lisa Frederiksen Bohannon'sThe American Revolution(Lerner, 2003) and Susan Provost Beller'sThe Revolutionary War(Benchmark, 2001). Two minor quibbles: the caption for a painting identifies the recipient of John Burgoyne's surrender as George Washington, rather than Horatio Gates (though it is easy to see how that error was made given the rendering) and a sidebar that states that the Liberty Bell was last rung in 1846. It was last tolled then, but has been sounded many times since. In all, this title is an excellent choice for both general readers and report writers.–Elaine Fort Weischedel, Millbury Public Library, MACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.