The American Revolution

Gr 4–7—Employing slang and modern jargon, Thompson describes the events of and leading up to the American Revolution, from 1765 until the creation of the U.S. Constitution. Readers learn of the Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the leaders of the revolution. Lively and detailed accounts of battles are spiced with interesting tidbits: an 80-year-old former soldier fended off six British soldiers single-handedly at the Battle of Lexington; a mysterious orphan charged the British stronghold at Stony Point, NY; Deborah Sampson, posing as a man, pulled a bullet out of her thigh rather than seek medical attention so as to keep her gender a secret; and more. Interspersed are details about several of the American leaders. This selection is comprehensive and provides a good overview of the revolution. A few facts are incorrect or misrepresented: Thompson implies that the Stamp Act was not repealed until after 1770; states that the Tories captured by Nancy Hart were taken prisoner (they were hanged); and claims that Henry Clinton sent Charles Cornwallis to invade the South in 1780 when he himself actually initiated the operation. Minor errors aside, the book is sure to enthrall readers.