Product Description

It began in Boston, with angry colonists objecting to the tyranny of a king who ruled from an ocean away.

It was voiced by patriots such as Sam Adams and Patrick Henry and echoed by citizens from New England all the way to the Carolinas.

It was fought by many -- colonists and patriots, Loyalists and slaves, Frontiersmen and Indians, British and French soldiers.

Over more than ten years, sides were taken, guns drawn, lives lost. But through it all, one man -- a general from Virginia named George Washington -- held the young colonies together and led them to victory, beating almost impossible odds.

History lovers Betsy and Giulio Maestro tell this true story of extraordinary times, incredible drama, and the birth of a new nation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #164270 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-01
• Released on: 2005-09-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 64 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-6–Picking up after the end of the French and Indian Wars, where Struggle for a Continent (HarperCollins, 2000) left off, the Maestros continue with the 20 years leading up to, and fighting, the American Revolution. A simple narrative, largely from the Colonists' perspective, touches on the major events, players, and ideas of the times, beginning with the Stamp Act and ending with Yorktown and the subsequent peace treaty. Much of the text is taken up with military encounters and strategies; campaigns, generals, and soldiers are kept relatively straight, often with the help of numerous clear maps (though there's no initial delineation of the 13 colonies). Full-color ink, colored-pencil, and watercolor illustrations–from small portrait ovals to full-spread scenarios–are also helpful; they grace the page in a pleasing, uncluttered way. Packing that much history into 64 pages means, of course, that some complexity, detail, and depth are lost. While some misconceptions are cleared up–Paul Revere's non-solo ride, Bunker/Breed's Hill–more explanation could sometimes relieve a bit of confusion. No sources are cited. Nonetheless, this book serves as a good introductory overview. The visual appeal, straightforward narrative, and large format make it accessible to audiences not ready for Joy Hakim's From Colonies to Country (Oxford, 2002) or Benson Bobrick's Fight for Freedom (S & S, 2004). Rosalyn Schanzer's George vs. George (National Geographic, 2004) is a more engaging and explanatory social and political history of the time, but lacks the more complete military coverage found here.–Nancy Palmer, The Little School, Bellevue, WA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 3-5. The Maestros pick up the thread after Struggle for a Continent: The French and Indian Wars, 1689-1763 (2000) and continue their American Story series with a colorfully illustrated book that spotlights the Revolutionary War period. History provides a fine plot and cast of characters for this topic, and the Maestros make the most of them, weaving a dramatic tale of ideals and hardship, heroism and betrayal, and illustrating events with a series of detailed, dramatic, and informative pictures and a number of excellent maps. (In one case, however, the art and caption are confusing, making it seem as if Patrick Henry delivered his "Give me liberty" speech to the colonial legislature at the Virginia capitol building, rather than of the St. John's church.) The book ends with a year-by-year table of significant events; an annotated list of "Unsung Heroes of the American Revolution"; a paragraph each on blacks, women, and Native Americans during the Revolution; and a page gathering a miscellany of added facts, but no source notes or bibliography. Colorful and accessible. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
Before beginning her career in children's books, Betsy Maestro was a teacher. Her first book with Giulio Maestro was A Wise Monkey Tale published in 1975, and since then they have collaborated on more than one hundred books. Their on-going "American Story" series began with the highly acclaimed The Discovery of the Americas and continues to help young readers understand and appreciate our nation's history.

The Maestros live with two cats and a goldfish in a converted cow barn in Old Lyme, Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

Another great addition to the series
For those who find textbooks dry and are searching for a well presented, colorful history of the US, I can not recommend this series enough for the upper elementary and even junior high grades. The books have very nicely done pictures and read well. I purchased this book especially for my 6th grade daughter who is fascinated by the Revolutionary War. She read it for pleasure over Christmas break! I plan also to use it with my 8th grade son as a supplement to his US history reading this year.