Our Constitution Rocks!

Gr 7-10–Turner’s peppy writing style will keep teens hooked long enough to understand–and possibly even enjoy learning about–the U.S. Constitution. Each article is broken down into sections, then translated into lay terms and given historical context and significance. All of them are accompanied by primary-source quotes (and Turner’s interpretation of their meanings), fun facts, comparisons with the Articles of Confederation and British laws, and, most importantly, reasons that teens should care about and become engaged in the Constitutional process. Unfortunately, gross inaccuracies are evident on numerous occasions. Most striking is the insistence that the Constitution–and the entire system of government–was founded on Christian principles. Mentions of Christianity are also incongruously located in the section about weights and measures, the Emoluments Clause, and the establishment of the Treasury. There is also a distinct negativity to mentions of President Obama’s track record, including his time living overseas, the 2011 NATO airstrike on Libya, and his refusal to back the Defense of Marriage Act (although his social-media presence does get a positive nod). While Turner is entitled to her political opinion, modern partisanship in either direction does not belong in a children’s book about the foundation of the country.–Rebecca Dash Donsky, New York Public Library