Chronicle Of America: American Revolution, 1700-1800 - Hardcover

This title in the "Chronicles of America" series (Colonial Times, 1600-1700, see below), provides an introduction to everyday life in the 18th century, and then describes the events leading up to, during, and after the Revolutionary War. It's a lot to tackle in 48 pages, half taken up with photographs from "America's Living History Museums." The title has browser appeal, but too little substance and overgeneralization may mislead young readers. For example: "Most people in America gathered together to pray at least once a week." Or: "Even if folks had come from Germany or Holland, they quickly became English citizens of the Americas." The tone sometimes trivializes the topic, for example: Pirates are described as "the naughtiest men." And under the heading "Ouch!" the author states: "Some unlucky prisoners even had their ears nailed to the planks." Most topics are treated in a two-page layout, with four to six full-color photographs and a very brief text. A typical spread entitled "There's No Place Like Home" describes homes in the Northern and Southern colonies and provides a photograph of Mount Vernon, an interior of a bedroom from Colonial Williamsburg, a brick row house, a Hudson Valley stone farm house, and a man mixing clay for bricks with his feet. The text states: "In the early 1700s, most houses were simply one big room." None of the dwellings shown are one room. The dwellings in the photographs span the century, but since the reader is not given dates, the text is at odds with the visual images. Other text labeled "surprising facts," explains: "The plaster at Mount Vernon includes both hog and cattle hair." That's neither surprising nor important. A blue box called "Brickmaking Made Easy" explains how bricks are made. With so little space the author should focus on more important topics. Many of the issues leading up to the Revolutionary War are introduced, for example the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Townsend Acts. Loyalists get very brief treatment, and battles are narrated with the fervor and flavor of a hockey sportscast. There are no maps or time lines to aid the reader. The author concludes with information on historic restorations to visit, books for further reading, Web sites of interest, photo credits, and an index. Too slight and problematic for purchase. (Nonfiction. 10-12) -- Copyright © 2000 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Grade 4-7-In a conversational style, Masoff hits the highlights of the period, focusing on life in the Colonies, the factors that led up to the American Revolution, and the war itself. Much effort is made to include the points of view of African slaves, free blacks, and Native Americans, both men and women. Throughout the text, tidbits that young people will find interesting appear in boxes titled "Surprising History." A recipe for Apple Tansey and instructions for a game called Nine Man Morris are also included. Abundant color photographs and a lively format give the book an inviting look. However, the Marquis de Lafayette is not mentioned, and other European generals such as Rochambeau and von Steuben appear without explanation. As an introduction to the topic, this book is successful. Its kid-friendly approach makes it appropriate for casual readers or young report writers. However, older students working on homework assignments will need more in-depth resources such as Joy Hakim's A History of Us, Book 3: From Colonies to Country 1710-1791 (Oxford, 1999) or Russell Adams's The Revolutionaries (Time-Life, 1996).
Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.