Decoding American History

“Journalism allows its readers to witness history; fiction gives its readers an opportunity to live it.”—John Hersey

In the last few years, publishers have produced a wide range of admirable American history titles. Fulfilling the old adage that "A picture is worth a thousand words," many of the following books are enhanced by outstanding illustrations. The archival black-and-white photography in Jennifer Armstrong's Photo by Brady reveals the brutality of the Civil War through battlefield scenes that, while by necessity staged, captured the cost of war. Michael Dooling's excellent oil paintings in The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin and Brian Selznick's attractive artwork in Walt Whitman: Words for America depict the drama contained within the words of the text.

Scholarship and documentation are also strong points in recent offerings. For example, Jim Murphy's Inside the Alamo provides various views on a single event, noting that many questions may never be answered definitively. Though written primarily as fiction, George Washington's Teeth by Deborah Chandra offers factual details by using text boxes and photographs within a time line, and an author's note in Joseph Bruchac's Code Talkers explains just how much research went into an accurate portrayal of the Navajo contribution to the war effort during World War II.

With those factors in mind, I have selected the titles listed below, all published within the last five years, and organized them by time periods to help elementary and middle school students better understand America's rich history. Purchase them to update your collection or put them on reading lists, but, more importantly, suggest these as fine offerings to transport readers back in time. –Blair Christolon

HOOBLER, Dorothy & Thomas Hoobler. We Are Americans: Voices of the Immigrant Experience. Scholastic. 2003. Tr $21.95. ISBN 0-439-16297-1.

Gr 5-9 –In this overview of the American immigrant experience, the authors present a broad history along with personal stories about why people left their homeland and how the United States has changed because of their arrival. They take the immigrant story through the years up to the present day with a description of different ethnic groups contributing to the final chapter of “A New America.” Black-and-white photographs are plentiful and will inspire classroom discussion.

HOOSE, Phillip M. We Were There, Too!: Young People in U.S. History. Farrar. 2001. Tr $28. ISBN 0-374-38252-2.

Gr 5-8 –This collective biography with numerous black-and-white photographs and reproductions profiles many young people of diverse cultures who have contributed to American history, a few well-known such as Pocahontas, and others less familiar, like Caroline Pickersgill, the girl who stitched the American flag. Hoose wraps up each story with information about what happened to the featured person in adulthood. A valuable aid in inspiring readers to realize that even youth can play a significant role in society and history.

JOHNSTON, Robert. The Making of America: The History of the United States from 1492 to the Present. National Geographic. 2002. RTE $29.95. ISBN 0-7922-6944-6.

Gr 5-8 –Johnston covers significant issues in this survey of American history. Each of the eight chapters provides biographical profiles of two major personalities representative of a particular time period. In addition, a “Great Debate” feature highlights thorny questions such as, “How Should America Combat the War on Terrorism at Home?” Full-color photographs and reproductions help divide the sections and carry history up to the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.

Nonfiction

CHANDA, Deborah. George Washington’s Teeth. illus. by Brock Cole. Farrar. 2003. Tr $16. ISBN 0-374-32534-0.

K-Gr 3 –Written in rhymed verse and illustrated with attractive watercolor illustrations, this book opens with an entertaining account of our first President’s dental problems and succession of false teeth. The second section consists of an extensive time line with thumbnail pictures featuring portraits of Washington and a photograph of his last set of dentures. Notes within the time line support the initial story and provide details about Washington’s life. Video available from Spoken Arts Media.

FRADIN, Dennis Brindell. The Signers: The 56 Stories Behind the Declaration of Independence. illus. by Michael McCurdy. Walker. 2002. Tr $22.95. ISBN 0-8027-8849-1; RTE $23.85. ISBN 0-8027-8850-5.

Gr 4-8 –Focusing on the 56 men who signed the document, Fradin divides this collective biography into 13 sections, each representing one of the colonies. Within them, he provides a brief history of the colony followed by profiles of the signers from that area. Scratchboard illustrations give an authentic feel to the text, which is unique for its coverage of the more obscure signers.

GIBLIN, James Cross. The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin. illus. by Michael Dooling. Scholastic. 2000. RTE $17.95. ISBN 0-590-48534-2.

Gr 3-6 –Franklin’s challenges as well as his accomplishments are featured in this appealing and well-written picture-book biography of the statesman and inventor. Dooling’s vividly realized paintings and line drawings reveal much about the man and about life during this period.

LONGFELLOW, Henry Wadsworth. The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. illus. by Christopher Bing. Handprint. 2001. Tr $17.95. ISBN 1-929766-130.

Gr 2-5 –This beautifully designed book illuminates the well-known poem with scratchboard illustrations resembling engravings. Two facsimile documents are glued to the endpapers–a British general’s orders to his troops and Revere’s explanation of his ride. Extensive endnotes fill in facts supporting the poetry. An inspiring interpretation.

SCHANZER, Rosalyn. George vs. George: The Revolutionary War as Seen by Both Sides. illus. by author. National Geographic. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-7922-7349-4; PLB $25.90. ISBN 0-7922-6999-3.

Gr 3-6 –Considering both sides of the conflict, Schanzer compares George Washington’s views with those of British King George III. The author discusses the home life of both Georges and continues with an analysis of the rebel versus British forces during the Revolutionary War. Attractive illustrations are cartoonlike in appearance, often with text balloons enhancing witty retorts from each speaker.

Fiction

BRUCHAC, Joseph. Pocahontas. Harcourt. 2003. Tr $17. ISBN 0-15-216737-4.

Gr 6 Up –In order to balance popular portrayals of Pocahontas with authentic accounts, Bruchac alternates chapters between two narrators–the 11-year-old Pocahontas and the 27-year-old Englishman Captain John Smith. Because the same events are told from the Native American storytelling tradition as well as the European perspective, this engaging fictional account reveals the contrasts in culture as the two major characters describe history in their own styles.

COONEY, Caroline B. The Ransom of Mercy Carter. Delacorte. 2001. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-385-32615-7; pap. $5.99. ISBN 0-440-22775-5.

Gr 6-10 –Based on a real event in 1704 in Deerfield, MA, this poignant story is about Mercy, who, along with her Puritan brother and sisters, watches as family members and townspeople are killed by Mohawk Indians. Abducted, they trek more than 300 miles over snow-covered land during the French and Indian War. After a year, some captives refuse to be ransomed back to Massachusetts and some marry within the tribe. A thought-provoking catalyst for challenging classroom discussions. Audio version available from Recorded Books.

Nonfiction

ALLEN, Thomas B. George Washington, Spymaster: How the Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary War. illus. by Cheryl Harness. National Geographic. 2004. RTE $16.95. ISBN 0-7922-5126-1.

Gr 5-9 –The unique design of this small-sized book featuring a crafty looking George Washington on the cover is sure to attract fans of espionage. Allen relates the story behind Washington’s Culper Spy Ring, a “shadowy world of double agents and covert operations,” while incorporating secret codes printed on the sides of the text, on the cover, and along the binding. Well documented and intriguing. Audio version available from Recorded Books.

FLEMING, Candace. Ben Franklin’s Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman’s Life. S & S. 2003. RTE $19.95. ISBN 0-689-83549-3.

Gr 5-9 –Presented in a scrapbooklike format in eight sections ranging from “Boyhood Memories” to “Revolutionary Memorabilia,” with a focus on Franklin’s witty sayings (“Fish and visitors stink in 3 days”) and fascinating scientific inventions (bifocals and open-air bathing houses), this well-researched biography encourages readers to sample chapters rather than read straight through. Numerous black-and-white reproductions add historical detail.

FREEDMAN, Russell. In Defense of Liberty: The Story of America’s Bill of Rights. Holiday House. 2003. Tr $24.95. ISBN 0-8234-1585-6.

Gr 5 Up –In describing the history of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, Freedman clearly points out the impact of these rights on decisions made today. He takes each amendment, defines the wording, and illustrates it with challenging examples for classroom discussion. Black-and-white photographs and reproductions of relevant people and events are included.

Fiction

GIFF, Patricia Reilly. A House of Tailors. Random. 2004. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-385-73066-7; PLB $17.99. ISBN 0-385-90879-2.

Gr 4-8 –As a new immigrant to New York City from Germany in 1870, 13-year-old Dina hopes that she will never have to sit in front of a sewing machine making dresses again. Yet, once in Brooklyn, she finds she is doing just that. This novel, based upon the author’s family history, shows the resilience of immigrants coping in a new world. Audio version available from Listening Library.

Nonfiction

BLUMBERG, Rhoda. York’s Adventures with Lewis and Clark: An African-American’s Part in the Great Expedition. HarperCollins. 2004. Tr $17.99. ISBN 0-06-009111-8; PLB $18.89. ISBN 0-06-009112-6.

Gr 4-8 –York, the only African-American member of the Corps of Discovery and Clark’s personal slave, contributed significantly to the expedition because he was an excellent hunter and trader. Clark’s journals and letters, which are further explained in the endnotes, provide insight into York’s importance in exploring uncharted lands. Black-and-white reproductions of paintings and prints support the chronological narrative.

KERLEY, Barbara. Walt Whitman: Words for America. illus. by Brian Selznick. Scholastic. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-439-35791-8.

Gr 4-8 –Featuring the Civil War years of this well-known writer, Kerley emphasizes the poet’s connection with ordinary Americans. Too old to fight as a soldier, Whitman initially wrote poems to rally people behind the Union cause. During the war, he was a frequent visitor and comfort to soldiers in the hospitals. Attractive colored-pencil drawings capture the careful research done on this picture-book biography for older readers.

MURPHY, Jim. Inside the Alamo. Delacorte. 2003. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-385-32574-6; PLB $18.99. ISBN 0-385-90092-9.

Gr 4-8 –Murphy offers a detailed description of the last days of the Alamo along with biographical sketches of Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, among others. Etchings and artistic paintings show battle scenes both inside and outside the building. Sidebars, such as the one describing the fact that other relief forces may have arrived to aid the Texans, provide excellent examples of how historical accounts can differ over time.

WINTERS, Kay. Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books. illus. by Nancy Carpenter. S & S. 2003. RTE $16.95. ISBN 0-689-82554-4.

K-Gr 3 –Concentrating on the early years of his life, Winters shows how much of Lincoln’s daily activities centered around his love of learning, ultimately leading him to study law and run for public office. Rich folk art oil-on-canvas paintings illustrate the man’s simple life in Illinois, and the account ends as he is elected to the Presidency in 1860.

Fiction

ALPHIN, Elaine Marie. Ghost Soldier. Holt. 2001. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-8050-6158-4.

Gr 5-8 –After meeting the ghost of a Confederate soldier during a Civil War reenactment, Alexander, the son of a modern-day computer programmer, travels back in time to help solve the mystery of the soldier’s family. A well-resolved conclusion ties pieces of the puzzle to Alexander’s present-day life. Endnotes provide additional information about the author’s Civil War research along with some of the many reasons that 11 Southern states seceded and sent young boys off to war.

LESTER, Julius. Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue. Hyperion. 2005. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-7868-0490-4.

Gr 6-9 –Lester bases his novel on the biggest slave auction ever held, which took place in Savannah, GA, in 1859. Reminiscent of a play or reader’s theater in style, the entire book consists of dialogue that looks back in time as well as to the future. The “n-word” is present in realistic conversations featuring Emma, the house slave who is sold and runs away to Canada, as well as in conversations among others in the plantation’s household. A thought-provoking and telling look at the many sides of slavery.

WOLF, Allan. New Found Land: Lewis and Clark’s Voyage of Discovery. Candlewick. 2004. RTE $18.99. ISBN 0-7636-2113-7.

Gr 7 Up –Written in poetic form, this novel uses parts of actual journal entries and letters to tell about 13 participants in the Corps of Discovery. To further engage readers, the author adds the fictional narration of Seaman, Lewis’s Newfoundland dog, to the tale. Endnotes relate what actually became of these individuals after the expedition. Picture using parts of this gem as reader’s theater.

Nonfiction

ARMSTRONG, Jennifer. Photo by Brady: A Picture of the Civil War. S & S. 2005. Tr $18.95. ISBN 0-689-85785-3.

Gr 6 Up –The photographs we see of the Civil War were often taken by Matthew Brady and his staff. Armstrong has thoroughly researched the photographic techniques of this time period and shows readers how these images were made so that they can appreciate Brady’s documentation of American history and the troops in the East.

GIBLIN, James Cross. Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth. Clarion. 2005. Tr $22. ISBN 0-618-09642-6.

Gr 5-9 –The lives of the two Booth brothers are more complex than this title implies. John Wilkes Booth was a Southern sympathizer and Lincoln’s assassinator, and Edwin Booth was a supporter of the Northern cause and a classical actor. Both are examined in this villain-and-hero story that will engage readers to the final page. The strong narrative is enhanced with archival photographs of not only the Booth family, but of co-conspirators Powell, Surratt, Herold, and Atzerodt as well.

Fiction

WEATHERFORD, Carole Boston. Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins. illus. by Jerome Lagarrigue. Dial. 2005. RTE $16.99. ISBN 0-8037-2860-3.

K-Gr 4 –In the Jim Crow society of the 1960s, African Americans in Greensboro, NC, are not allowed to sit at the lunch counter in Woolworth’s. Connie, a black girl, presents her view of the peaceful sit-down strikes that result. Painterly illustrations in oil show the seriousness of these protests in this story of America’s recent past.

WOODSON, Jacqueline. Coming on Home Soon. illus. by E. B. Lewis. Putnam. 2004. RTE $16.99. ISBN 0-399-23748-8.

K-Gr 3 –During World War II, women were offered jobs while men were fighting overseas. Here, Ada Ruth’s mama takes a job in Chicago. The girl is happy staying with her grandmother, but she misses her mother. Lewis’s stunning watercolors vividly express Ada Ruth’s feelings in this quiet tale of longing and loneliness that speaks to any child waiting for a parent to return.

Nonfiction

COOPER, Michael L. Dust to Eat: Drought and Depression in the 1930s. Clarion. 2004. Tr $15. ISBN 0-618-15449-3.

Gr 4-7 –The struggle of those migrating to California to escape the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma and the harsh conditions in the migrant camps are vividly portrayed in Dorothea Lange’s archival black-and-white photographs, many of which are included here. Well-documented, eyewitness accounts enrich the text and will encourage readers to learn more.

MELTZER, Milton. There Comes a Time: The Struggle for Civil Rights. Random. 2001. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-375-80407-2; PLB $18.99. ISBN 0-375-90407-7; pap. $8.99. ISBN 0-375-80414-5.

Gr 4-8 –Beginning with the forced migration of enslaved Africans across the ocean and ending after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination, Meltzer presents a survey of the Civil Rights movement, providing detailed explanations of important events and personalities. Myriad black-and-white photographs, although small, bring immediacy and passion to the history.

Fiction

BRUCHAC, Joseph. Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two. Dial. 2005. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-8037-2921-9.

Gr 6 Up –In his characteristic storytelling style, Bruchac relates the tale of Native American Ned Begay, who despite being forbidden to use his Navajo language during his early boarding school education, retains his native language and is recruited to use this skill to radio battlefield information in the Pacific Theater. Readers will learn a great deal about the Navajo servicemen who kept this military secret until 1969.

ELLIOT, Laura Malone. Under a War-Torn Sky. Hyperion. 2001. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-7868-0755-5; PLB $16.49. ISBN 0-7868-2485-9; pap. $5.99. ISBN 0-7868-1753-4.

Gr 6-9 –In this action-filled tale of a 19-year-old American pilot shot down during World War II over Alsace, French civilians help the pilot escape from the Nazis. Henry endures adventure after adventure as he makes his way to freedom. Based upon the author’s father’s experiences, this story will have young teens rooting for the courageous main character.

HALE, Marian. The Truth about Sparrows. Holt. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-8050-7584-4.

Gr 5-7 –In this Depression-era story told from a 12-year-old’s point of view, Sadie resents leaving behind her friends when her family is forced to move. No longer able to make decent wages as a mechanic in Missouri, her father, crippled by polio since childhood, sells their house and buys a tar paper shack in Texas. This historical fiction piece is sure to generate thoughtful discussion.

Nonfiction

AMBROSE, Stephen E. The Good Fight: How World War II Was Won. S & S. 2001. Tr $19.95. ISBN 0-689-84361-5.

Gr 6 Up –Retaining a balance between an overview of history and a selection of personal anecdotes, Ambrose details the sacrifices of the American soldiers in both the war in Europe and the Pacific theater. Clearly labeled maps of battles and conquests are included, while dramatic full-page photographs draw readers closer to the subject.

BLUMENTHAL, Karen. Six Days in October: The Stock Market Crash of 1929: A Wall Street Journal Book for Children. S & S. 2002. RTE $17.95. ISBN 0-689-84276-7.

Gr 6 Up –Blumenthal, Dallas bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal, presents a vivid picture of the stock market and Wall Street during those six days in 1929. Archival photos and political cartoons bring immediacy to the text. This is just the book for future Wall Street employees and those whose curiosity was sparked by the Enron scandal.

DREZ, Ronald I. Remember D-Day: The Plan, the Invasion, Survivor Stories. National Geographic. 2004. Tr $17.95. ISBN 0-7922-6666-8; PLB 27.90. ISBN 0-7922-6965-9.

Gr 5-8 –Using primary and secondary documents, Drez describes the details leading up to the Allied invasion at Normandy. Words of soldiers are taken from oral histories archived in the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans. Chapters are chronologically arranged and cover tactics and strategies of the invasion. Dramatic archival black-and-white photographs enhance this excellent overview.

MCWHORTER, Diane. A Dream of Freedom: The Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968. Scholastic. 2004. Tr $19.95. ISBN 0-439-57678-4.

Gr 6-9 –McWhorter brings the Civil Rights movement to the forefront with this readable overview that provides background and gives an understanding of major events and people, including Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcolm X. The finely reproduced black-and-white photographs illuminate the comprehensive text.