Burgan, Michael. African Americans in the Thirteen Colonies.

Burgan, Michael.  African Americans in the Thirteen Colonies.     Scholastic/ Childrens Press   2013  64p   $30.00  ISBN 978-0-531-23600-0 elm/ms  series: Cornerstones of Freedom  VG-BNS

This book includes a look at the harrowing journey taken by Africans who were brought to America, at the growth of slavery prior to the American Revolution, at the hardships of daily life in the colonies and at the role of slaves in the Revolutionary War.  It is very interesting to learn about slavery during the formative years of this country, before we achieved freedom from Great Britain.  Author Michael Burgan has used his fine writing style to tell young teens about life, hardship, and the growth of slavery throughout the colonies.  The book has four well-organized chapters in which  Burgan uses anecdotal information, statistics, and facts to tell the story of the limitations placed on African Americans, even on those who were lucky enough to gain their freedom.  In the beginning, some blacks could marry whites, have children and work their own land.  By the late 1600s, however, laws limiting the rights of blacks began to appear, especially in Virginia.  Slavery grew in the northern colonies, but with the exception of Rhode Island, the populations never equaled those of the South.  Readers learn about the Great Awakening, which brought Christianity to the masses of African American slaves.  They also learn about Crispus Attucks, one of the people killed during the Boston Massacre.  Whereas many slaves fought for the British during the Revolutionary War in exchange for their freedom, other slaves fought for the colonists and were instrumental in their victory. 

A teacher of social studies who hopes to teach the early history of slavery in the states will want to use the illustrations, the timeline that begins in the 1440s, and the text to support a unit on African Americans’ role in the U.S.  The book’s many extras include a spotlight on famous African Americans of the time.  All in all, this book has a lot to offer.  Cornerstones of Freedom uses historical illustrations, maps, timelines and comprehensive text to tell the stories of many important moments in American history.  Topics include Lincoln, Obama, Gettysburg, the nuclear age and many others.     

Slavery-History                                             --Martha Squaresky

Rinaldi, Ann. The Last Full Measure.

Rinaldi, Ann. The Last Full Measure.
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin, 218p, 2010, 17.00
978-0-547-38980-6, ms VG-BN


Vividly portrays life in the town of Gettysburg during the battle. With their family, Tacy and her brother David live through the dangers, fears, and aftermath of the battle.
With her father a doctor and two brothers away fighting for the Union army, fourteen-year-old Tacy lives through the days of the Battle of Gettysburg in town. Her older brother David, is in charge. He cannot fight due to a crippled leg. Tacy is headstrong and a real handful for David. During the battle the family helps hide some free Negroes, attend to wounded, and meet Confederates both respectful and not. After the fighting Tacy and David continue their father’s work of burying bodies and recording the names. At this time David gives his life for his principles by following the law and refusing to let a body be dug back up.
This book gives a glimpse at what it was like for the townspeople and how ordinary citizens may be called on to do extraordinary feats.
The characters are well drawn and it is obvious that both the locale and action during the battle are well researched. This will be a useful addition to the collection when students study the Civil War. Perfect for eighth graders.Theal, Joan

Nardo, Don. Bull Run to Gettysburg: Early Battles of the Civil War.

Nardo, Don. Bull Run to Gettysburg: Early Battles of the Civil War.
Compass Point Books/Capstone 2011 64p 33.32 978-0-7565-4368-6
ms VG-BNS Civil War (Compass Point)


Causes, strengths and weaknesses of both the Union and the Confederacy, important battles, and innovative uses of ships and manpower, brilliant strategies and poor decisions are highlighted.
Don Nardo combines his natural writing style with an elevated, but not over-the-edge use of vocabulary to make this book a good choice for middle school readers as well as for advanced elementary readers or high school fans. Civil War enthusiasts will not be disappointed with the details of battles, the sequencing of the chapters and the summary information on each important battle. After a creative introduction, Nardo introduces the reader to the early battles and names such as Beauregard, McDowell, McClellan and Lee. Bull Run is a battle which resulted in the retreat of the Union and a prediction of a long war. This battle showed the power of the Confederacy. Afterward, Lee went on the offensive and once again, the Union army retreated after the second battle of Manassas. In the next chapter one learns of the decisive wins of the Union at Nashville and Pea Ridge in the West. Cities continued to fall, including New Orleans. Back up north, record numbers of dead resulted from the battle at Antietam, and the Battle of Gettysburg changed the course of the war. An outstanding chapter chronicles the contributions of the African Americans, the famous battle of Fort Wagner, highlighted in the 1989 movie, Glory, and the extreme bravery of the blacks as they fought side by side, without equal pay, to contribute to the ultimate victory of the Union. Finally, Nardo summarizes the events of the Battle of Gettysburg to end his book. One could easily see the use of these chapters to support the social studies teacher. The vocabulary and timeline are complete, and the bibliography shows the extent of Nardo’s research to complete the book. Squaresky, Martha