Geo Librarian

SIEGE How General Washington Kicked the British Out of Boston and Launched a Revolution by Roxane Orgill Candlewick Press, 2018 ISBN: 978-0-7636-8851-6 Source: ARC from publisher for review Ages 9-12 Middle grade nonfiction/free verse All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Step back to British-held Boston and hear the voices of citizens, militiamen, and redcoats at a turning of the tide in the American Revolution, brought to life in Roxane Orgill's deft verse. It is the summer of 1775. The British occupy Boston and its busy harbor, holding residents captive and keeping a strong military foothold. The threat of smallpox looms, and the town is cut off, even from food supplies. Following the battles of Lexington and Concord, Congress unanimously elects George Washington commander in chief of the American armed forces, and he is sent to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to transform the ragtag collection of volunteer militiamen into America's first...

LIBERTY LEE'S TAIL OF INDEPENDENCE by Peter W. Barnes and Cheryl Shaw Barnes Little Patriot Press, 2012 ISBN: 978-1-59698-792-0 Grades 2-5 Reviewed from copy provided by TLC Book Tours for Blog Tour. Opinions expressed are solely my own. Look, right over there—oh say can you see? It’s a Yankee Doodle mouse named Liberty Lee! On the 4th of July, Liberty Lee proudly tells how he and his friends helped the 13 American colonies win their freedom. For years the king of England had unfairly taxed them—he taxed their sugar, molasses, and teas. What would be next? Macaroni and cheese? Finally Liberty Lee and the other fearless colonists said enough is enough. From the Boston Tea Party to the “shot heard ’round the world” at Lexington and Concord, Liberty Lee describes how he took part in the brave acts that won America’s independence. He lends Jefferson a hand (and a tail!) in writing the Declaration of Independence. And he is there for the final American victory at Yo...

Those Rebels, John & Tom written by Barbara Kerley, Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham Scholastic Press, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-545-22268-6 48 p. Grades 2-6 Reviewed from personal copy. BLURB : A brilliant portrait of two American heroes from the award-winning creators of The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)!John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were very different.John Adams was short and stout. Thomas Jefferson was tall and lean.John was argumentative and blunt.Tom was soft-spoken and polite. John sometimes got along with almost no one.Tom got along with just about everyone. But these two very different gentlemen did have two things in common: They both cared deeply about the American colonies, and neither cared much for the British tyrant, King George. With their signature wit, impeccable research, and inventive presentation style, award winners Barbara Kerley and Edwin Fotheringham masterfully blend biography and history to create a brilliant portrait of two ...

The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon by Carla Killough McClafferty Lerner Publishing Group, 2011 Grades 5 and up Reviewed from copy provided by publisher through NetGalley and personal copy. None of the paintings of George Washington that most Americans are familiar with are considered truly accurate by many historians, this includes the painting used to create the image of Washington on the one-dollar bill.  In 2005, a group of historians, scientists, and skilled artisans at Mount Vernon decided to try to create life-size models of Washington at three major points in his life.  The book describes these efforts and the incredible amount of work that went into the creating of these three full-body representations of Washington.  The process required the efforts of many skilled individuals, including tailors, leather-workers, and computer programmers.  Numerous images and writings were examined to come up with every possible detail to...

Today being President's Day, it seems appropriate to highlight some books that revolve around the founding of our country.  I have read a lot of books about the American Revolution, but none quite like the ones that I am highlighting today.  Generally speaking, most books about the American Revolution focus on the patriots, the white patriots.  But like all historical events the reality was much more complex.  These books help present that complexity. Chains Laurie Halse Anderson Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008. Grades 5 and up Reviewed from personal copy Isabel and her sister, Ruth, having lost both their mother and their owner, expect to be freed as their owner promised them they would be.  Unfortunately, Mr. Robert does not free them, instead he sells them to a British Loyalist and his demanding wife.  After arriving in New York, Isabel meets a slave boy by the name of Curzon, who encourages her to spy on her owners to help the patriot cau...