Siege: How General Washington Kicked the British Out of Boston and Launched a Revolution

Gr 7 Up—In the summer of 1775, General George Washington and his troops could barely get the American Revolution off the ground. In her collection of free verse poems, Orgill covers the chaotic beginnings of the fight for independence. Each poem, titled by the character or event that's being discussed, is a crystal-clear snapshot. Through strong imagery, readers are transported back in time and can see, hear, and even smell the revolution. Points of view are switched often throughout to give a broad picture of all aspects of war. While there are many books on this time period, there are not many that are written in verse. The back matter offered is substantial and there are source notes for specific quotations and characterizations, including Orgill's representation of William Lee, who was enslaved by George Washington. The bibliography offers print and up-to-date digital resources, along with how the author used them and which ones were particularly useful to her research. While this collection of poems is a clever way to present information, it should not be used as a reference source for school reports, as these are poems based on historical events.