Duel!: Burr and Hamilton’s Deadly War of Words by Dennis Brindell Fradin
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Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, VA -- School Library Journal, 7/2/2008
From SLJ July 2008
FRADIN, Dennis Brindell. Duel!: Burr and Hamilton’s Deadly War of Words. illus. by Larry Day. unpaged. maps. bibliog. further reading. CIP. Walker. July 2008. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8027-9583-0; RTE $17.85. ISBN 978-0-8027-9584-7. LC 2007037994.
Gr 3-6–Fradin’s account of the Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton feud makes compelling, child-appropriate reading. The author vividly shows how some aspects of politics have not changed over the past 200 years, including negative campaigning and smear tactics. The account is short and fast moving with Fradin choosing key points in Hamilton’s and Burr’s lives that illustrate how they arrived at the duel. Describing events from their difficult childhoods, their service as aides to George Washington, their work as lawyers in New York and in positions in federal government, the author demonstrates that both men were to blame for the situation. His focus remains consistent in leading up to their final confrontation in 1804. Beginning with an arresting close-up perspective of Burr’s dueling pistol on the front cover, the illustrations capture attention and convey details of the topic. The characters’ expressive faces add emotion to the facts. Rendered in watercolor and gouache with pen-and-ink accents, the pictures are realistic, but not in a photographic sense. Incorporating primary sources in a dramatic style, Duel! presents a gripping view of men revered by history but not really known.
