Why Not, Lafayette?

Why Not, Lafayette?

Written by: Jean Fritz
Illustrated by: Ronald Himler

"A young Frenchman of nineteen traveling across the sea to help a struggling nation fight for its independence? Why not? To Lafayette, anything was possible. A man who threw off the boundaries imposed on him to stand up for what he believed, the Marquis de Lafayette grew from an idealistic young man searching for honor and glory, into an idealistic statesman with rock-solid principles of liberty. Here, Jean Fritz brings to life the exciting story of the brave and appealing man known as "The Hero of the New World."

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/mtai/fritz.html
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/patriots/lafayette-american-revolution.htm

Forge

Forge

Written by: Laurie Halse Anderson

Award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson have delivered an equally thrilling novel to follow up her National Book Award Finalist book Chains with Forge. Readers can pick up right where Curzon and Isabel left off at the end of Chains as they escaped from Revolutionary New York City in the middle of the night. After their escape, Curzon and Isabel take different paths with Curzon becoming a soldier at Valley Forge. He later meets up with Isabel after his master has captured him forcing him to leave the army to become a servant again. This novel details the treacherous living conditions soldiers at Valley Forge faced during that harsh winter. Halse-Anderson also discusses how many black soldiers fought in the Revolution with the hopes of gaining their freedom when the war was over. Curzon is a well-developed character that students will be able to relate, especially those who are interested in black soldiers serving in the war. Female students will connect with Isabel and the determination she possess in spite of the struggles she faces being torn from her family. This book will have a follow-up story as well which readers (including myself) will be eagerly waiting for!

Jennie's Review

Online Resources:
http://books.simonandschuster.com/Forge/Laurie-Halse-Anderson/9781416961444
*Readers guide at bottom of the page*
http://madwomanintheforest.com/historical-forge/
http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/links/index.html

Chains

Chains

Written by: Laurie Halse Anderson

This beautifully written piece of historical fiction written by well-known young adult author Laurie Halse Anderson gives readers a very close up view of a young slave girls experience living in New York City during the time of the American Revolution. Isabel and her sister Ruth are sold to a couple who are very involved in the political scene in New York as Loyalists to the British crown. Isabel becomes involved with a boy whose master promises her freedom if she is able to deliver secret information to and from her master to the Rebel forces. Isabel endures many hardships including the loss of her sister Ruth whom her master sells right from under her without her knowing. She must dig deep to make the biggest leap of faith she has ever made by running away in the middle of the night to freedom. This story continues into the next novel, Fever which is the second in a series of three books written by Anderson. Readers will feel a connection to this time period in US history through the authenticity of the characters in this story. There is a very well written question and answer section in the back of the book that explains the historical aspects of this novel that readers will find as a great companion to this book.

This book has received numerous awards and honors including a National Book Award Finalist in 2008, and the 2009 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

Jennie's Review

Online Resources:
http://madwomanintheforest.com/teachers/historical-chains/
http://www.slavenorth.com/index.html

The Crossing: How George Washington Saved the American Revolution

The Crossing: How George Washington Saved the American Revolution

Written by: Jim Murphy

"With his engaging and timeless narrative prose, two-time Newbery Honor Book author Jim Murphy tells the awe-inspiring story of George Washington's glorious fight for an independent America. It is 1776, and George Washington and his army of rebellious American colonists are emboldened by its stunning victories over the British at Lexington and Concord. But now, the Americans face the threat of a brutal British retaliation. George Washington, who has little experience with a threat of this magnitude, is unanimously chosen as commander in chief in hopes he can unite the colonies. Britain's army is massive and well trained. America's is small and unruly.

As the British begin their invasion of New York City and its environs, George Washington isn't the only one who is overcome with doubts that he can succeed against such overwhelming odds. In this breathtaking account of a pivotal time in the American Revolution, two-time Newbery Honor Book author Jim Murphy shows George Washington's transformation from a gentleman farmer with little military experience to a brilliant general, as he delivers the country from the blackest of times--into the brightest of futures."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.nps.gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/george_washington.html
http://theamericanrevolution.org/peopleDetail.aspx?people=1

Lafayette and the American Revolution

Lafayette and the American Revolution

Written by: Russell Freedman

"When the Marquis de Lafayette ran off to join the American Revolution against the explicit orders of the king of France, he was a strong-willed nineteen-year-old who had never set foot on a battlefield. Although the U.S. Congress granted him an honorary commission only out of respect for his title and wealth, Lafayette quickly earned the respect of his fellow officers with his bravery, devotion to the cause of liberty, and incredible drive.

Playing a pivotal role in the Revolution, Lafayette convinced the French government to send troops, made crucial pacts with Native Americans, and lead his men to victory at Yorktown. This thrilling account of a daring soldier will fascinate young historians. Source notes, bibliography, time line, index."

Product Description

Online Resources:
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/patriots/lafayette-american-revolution.htm

Patience Wright: America's First Sculptor and Revolutionary Spy

Patience Wright: America's First Sculptor and Revolutionary Spy

Written by: Pegi Deitz Shea
Illustrated by: Bethanne Andersen

Easy Readability

"Born in 1725 in the American colonies, Patience Wright discovered her talent for art at an early age. As an adult, she joined her sister in a wax-sculpting business and later moved on her own to England. There, Patience became a spy for the colonies, hiding messages in the sculpted busts she sent to her sister's waxworks in America. Here is the story of a woman who lived an extraordinary life, full of art and intrigue."

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2009/01/patience-lovell-wright.html
http://bordentownhistory.org/Current_Exhibits/PatielceWright/index.html

The Real Benedict Arnold

The Real Benedict Arnold

Written by: Jim Murphy

"Every account of the American Revolution mentions Benedict Arnold and brands him correctly as a traitor. There’s no question that Arnold, an American army officer, switched his loyalty to the British side. Over the years, however, historians, partisans, and gossips have added to Arnold’s unsavory reputation by distorting, embroidering, or simply ignoring factual details.

In this informed and thoughtful account, Jim Murphy goes in search of the real man behind the “traitor” label, rumors, and folktales that became part of the Benedict Arnold legend. Drawing on Arnold’s few surviving writings and on the letters, memoirs, and political documents of his contemporaries, Murphy builds a fascinating portrait of a brilliant man, consistently undervalued by his peers, who made a choice that continues to reverberate through American history. Dramatic accounts of crucial battles and political maneuvers round out this lively biography of a patriot who could have been a hero."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/arnold.htm
http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/arnold.html

Old Ironsides: Americans Build a Fighting Ship

Old Ironsides: Americans Build a Fighting Ship

Written by: David Weitzman

Easy Readability

"Made from the wood of more than 1,000 trees, she weighs 1,576 tons and carries 44 guns. She's the largest, fastest fighting ship of her class - the Constitution. The beginnings of a fledgling country's navy took shape in the graceful lines of this frigate, whose strength under fire earned her the nickname "Old Ironsides." Follow young John Aylwin as he watches and helps in the construction of one of the most remarkable sailing ships ever built, from the selection of oaks for the masts to the casting of her three-ton cannon to the sewing of more than two acres of sail. The story of the birth of the Constitution is accompanied by drawings that are stunning in their elegance and detail, a fitting tribute to a majestic vessel."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org/

George Washington and the Founding of a Nation

George Washington and the Founding of a Nation

Written by: Albert Marrin

"This engaging biography presents a thorough look at the life of the first president as well as clear presentations of the people and events that shaped his world. A good portion of the text focuses on Washington's military career, including details of individual campaigns and battles. The general's courage, bravado, and intangible leadership qualities emerge through descriptions of his wartime actions and through the words of those who fought with and against him.

The harshness of war comes through in sometimes gruesome detail, showing the cruelty that prevailed on both sides. Washington unhesitatingly orders the execution of mutineers from his own army, judging that a more merciful decision would have cost more in the long run. Marrin clearly admires his subject, yet carefully discusses his flaws and errors. The author raises questions and presents differing views without interrupting the flow of the narrative. Well-chosen quotations, many from Washington's own writings, enliven the text as well. Numerous historical drawings, paintings, and etchings help to bring the period alive."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/gwash.htm
http://www.nps.gov/revwar/about_the_revolution/george_washington.html

A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy

A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy

Written by: Jim Murphy

"In the summer of 1776, Joseph Plumb Martin was a fifteen-year-old Connecticut farm boy who considered himself "as warm a patriot as the best of them." He enlisted that July and stayed in the revolutionary army until hostilities ended in 1783. Martin fought under Washington, Lafayette, and Steuben. He took part in major battles in New York, Monmouth, and Yorktown. He wintered at Valley Forge and then at Morristown, considered even more severe. He wrote of his war years in a memoir that brings the American Revolution alive with telling details, drama, and a country boy's humor. Jim Murphy lets Joseph Plumb Martin speak for himself throughout the text, weaving in historical backfround details wherever necessary, giving voice to a teenager who was an eyewitness to the fight that set America free from the British Empire."

Product Description

Online Resources:
http://www.americanrevolutioncenter.org/
http://www.lesdwebquests.org/wquest/teacher.htm

Paul Revere's Ride

Paul Revere's Ride

Written by: David Hackett Fischer

"Paul Revere's midnight ride looms as an almost mythical event in American history--yet it has been largely ignored by scholars and left to patriotic writers and debunkers. Now one of the foremost American historians offers the first serious look at the events of the night of April 18, 1775--what led up to it, what really happened, and what followed--uncovering a truth far more remarkable than the myths of tradition."

Product Description

Online Resources:
http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/paul_revere.htm

Give Me Liberty! The Story of the Declaration of Independence

Give Me Liberty! The Story of the Declaration of Independence

Written by: Russell Freedman

"Known for his stellar biographies and superb nonfiction, Freedman now offers a fine book about the creation of one of the nation's most important historical documents. The first five chapters vividly bring to life the events that led to Colonial uprising and revolt. The next three chapters describe the Second Continental Congress, formation of the Continental Army, Battle of Bunker Hill, and drafting of the Declaration by Thomas Jefferson.

The final chapter discusses the impact of the famous document at the time it was written and its continuing importance, and offers practical information about its preservation, storage, and display. The author points out the important roles women, slaves, and free blacks played in the Revolution, but is also careful to note the restrictions placed on these groups by the white male majority. Quotations from journals, essays, speeches, letters, and songs of the day add color to the compelling narration. Many bold reproductions, in color and black and white, supplement the text. A must for every collection."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=787_type=Book_typeId=2637
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/revolutionary_war/american_revolution.htm

Crossing the Delaware: A History in Many Voices

Crossing the Delaware: A History in Many Voices

Written by: Louise Peacock
Illustrated by: Walter Lyon Krudop

"The Revolution did seem nearly over in the harsh winter of 1776. The Continental Army, led by General George Washington, had suffered many defeats and had made many retreats. Now the soldiers found themselves encamped on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, across from three Hessian regiments occupying the town of Trenton, New Jersey. Tired, cold, ill-clothed, and ill-equipped to fight, most of them were ready to go home when their enlistments were up. Only decisive action could possibly win General Washington a battle -- and save the Revolution.

A variety of voices in a variety of forms -- a present-day narrator, the letters of a fictional soldier, and true accounts from the time -- are brought together with period images and Walter Lyon Krudop's dramatic art to make vivid the critical moments of Washington's crossing of the Delaware. Readers cannot help but come away with a new appreciation of what the Battle of Trenton means for us today."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://chnm.gmu.edu/acpstah/units_acps.php?acpstahid=3

Those Remarkable Women of the American Revolution

Those Remarkable Women of the American Revolution

Written by: Karen Zeinert

"Zeinert chronicles the many contributions made by women during the Revolutionary War. She describes the role of both patriots and loyalists; black and Indian women; Northern women as well as those on Southern plantations, showing how the war forced them to assume nontraditional roles, such as protecting the homefront and taking on men's duties like farming and keeping the books."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/women_american_revolution/
http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/femvets.html

Jump Ship to Freedom

Jump Ship to Freedom

Written by: James and Christopher Collier

Easy Readability

"Young Daniel Arabus and his mother are slaves in the house of Captain Ivers of Stratford, Connecticut. By law they should be free, since Daniel's father fought in the Revolutionary army and earned enough in soldiers' notes to buy his family's freedom.

But now Daniel's father is dead, and Mrs. Ivers has taken the notes from his mother. When Daniel bravely steals the notes back, a furious Captain Ivers forces him aboard a ship bound for the West Indies--and certain slavery. Even if Daniel can manage to jump ship in New York, will he be able to travel the long and dangerous road to freedom?"

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.coloradocollege.edu/dept/hy/hy243ruiz/Research/revolution.html

War Comes to Willy Freeman

War Comes to Willy Freeman

Written by: James and Christopher Collier

Easy Readability

"Willy Freeman's life changes forever when she witnesses her father's death at the hands of the Redcoats and returns home to find that the British have taken her mother as a prisoner to New York City. Willy, disguised as a boy, begins her long search for her mother and luckily finds a haven at the famous Fraunces Tavern. But even with the help of Sam Fraunces and her fellow worker, Horace, Willy knows that to be black, female, and free leaves her open to danger at every turn. What will tomorrow bring?"

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://www.carolhurst.com/subjects/ushistory/revolution.html

My Brother Sam is Dead

My Brother Sam is Dead

Written by: James Collier & Christopher Collier

"All his life, Tim Meeker has looked up to his brother Sam. Sam's smart and brave -- and is now a part of the American Revolution. Not everyone in town wants to be a part of the rebellion. Most are supporters of the British -- including Tim and Sam's father. With the war soon raging, Tim know he'll have to make a choice -- between the Revolutionaries and the Redcoats . . . and between his brother and his father."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.historyofredding.com/HRmbsd.htm
http://www.create.cett.msstate.edu/create/classroom/lplan_view.asp?articleID=196

Countdown to Independence: A Revolution of Ideas in England and Her American Colonies: 1760-1776

Countdown to Independence: A Revolution of Ideas in England and Her American Colonies: 1760-1776

Written by: Natalie Bober

"A thorough, balanced look at the events that led to the American Revolution. Starting in 1760, when George III took the throne, Bober describes how individuals, ideas, and actions eventually brought about the unexpected and far from inevitable emergence of a new nation. Chapters alternate between action in England and in the Colonies, providing a variety of viewpoints. Devoting more than 300 pages to just 17 years, Bober fleshes out many historical occurrences that are often oversimplified or even passed over in other children's books on the period. With the Stamp Act, for instance, she explores the reactions of many groups and individuals, revealing the practical, philosophical, and political arguments for and against its implementation. The personalities of key figures emerge in memorable ways, supported by direct quotes and engaging anecdotes."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://www.cvsd.org/american_revolution.asp
http://americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/index2.htm