The Virginia Giant: The True Story of Peter Francisco

Gr 5–8—This biography takes a look at Peter Francisco, a Revolutionary War soldier of great height and girth. Little is known about Francisco's origins or how he came to the American Colonies. As a child, he spoke no English (only Portuguese) and was adopted by a Virginia landowner (though other versions of his biography state that he was born in the Azores and was indentured at age five to a sea captain who left him in Virginia). Francisco grew into a large, powerfully built young man: by age 15, he was 6'6" and weighed more than 250 pounds. He joined the army, enduring a hellish winter at Valley Forge, and worked hard and fought for his country. The description of Francisco's life makes this work sound as though it would be an enticing read. However, the book does nothing to highlight the man, who appears rarely among the dense pages detailing the causes of the war and individual battles. Research suggests that Peter used his size and character to contribute to the war, but this title provides little detail on this figure and his role in the American Revolution. Not recommended.—Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City