No comments about Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Illustrated.

5 comments about Civil War On Sunday (Magic Tree House #21).

1. I have an eight year old, third grade son who up till now has very much struggled with reading. This is the second Magic Tree House book he has read and we are doing so well with it. This book is a chapter book but also has pictures, it is just perfect for a beginner chapter book. My son checked it out from the school library as part of thier Accelerated Reader program. I found some chapter quizzes out there on the internet that really help to reinforce comprehension. This story is interesting too, covering the Civil war, slavery, and Clara Barton. We were able to tie this story into current events also, at one point Jack (one of the main characters) is talking to an African American soldier who is fighting against slavery. He asks the soldier where his family is and the soldier tells him that his family was sold years ago. One of the things Clara Barton tells Jack he should do is give hope and comfort to the soldiers...so anyway Jack tells this soldier that his fight is worthwhile, that his grandchildren and great grandchildren will be doctors and lawyers and work in government. My son and I were able to connect this to today and the election of Barack Obama. So my son is really excited because he is able to read these books, he finds them interesting, he is learning about history and he is finally having some success in reading. Thank you Mary Pope Osborne. This is just what he needed. As someone who is always there reading with him I find this book interesting too.



2. Do you want to read a book that is fun and adventurous?
   Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne is the book for you.
   First, this book can take you back in history to the Civil War.
   I learned about a famous nurse, Clara Bartow. She risked her life for soldiers on the battlefield. She cared for soldiers from the Confederate Army and the Union Army. The wounded were laid in wagons and taken to camp where they would recognized there relatives from the Union Army.
   Have you ever thought of yourself rather than others? In this book Jack and Annie face this lesson. I was reminded to think of others more than myself. Will Jack and Annie help the soldiers rather then getting out of danger? Do you think they will get home safely?
   This book is about history and gives good lessons. I suggest you read this book to learn more about history.
   
   By: Dayna Beatty 4th Grader.



3. Civil War on Sunday
   
   Do you want to read a book that is fun and adventurous?
   Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborne is the book for you.
   First, this book can take you back in history to the Civil War.
   I learned about a famous nurse, Clara Bartow. She risked her life for soldiers on the battlefield. She cared for soldiers from the Confederate Army and the Union Army. The wounded were laid in wagons and taken to camp where they would recognized there relatives from the Union Army.
   Have you ever thought of yourself rather than others? In this book Jack and Annie face this lesson. I was reminded to think of others more than myself. Will Jack and Annie help the soldiers rather then getting out of danger? Do you think they will get home safely?
   This book is about history and gives good lessons. I suggest you read this book to learn more about history.
   By: Dayna Beatty 4th Grader
   
   



4. Hi! I'm Lydia, and I'm 8 1/2 years old. In 3rd grade, I read a lot of books, but my favorite was The Magic Tree House - Civil War on Sunday!
   It's about two kids who have a mission. They have to go back in time to the Civil War.
   This book was fantastic, amazing, and sometimes sad. It had funny parts too! I hope you get to turn those pages like I did!



5. fire!!!!!!!!! the magic tree house is taking jack and annie back to the civil war. the war the people in usa are fighting at other usa people. morgan gave them a book about the civil war too. if you want to learn about the civil war this is the perfect book for you!!!!! kids love the magic tree house books just like me!

5 comments about The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family.

1. This book reads, in many places, like a legal brief, with the author making a case for why James and Sally made their choices. The book serves to put the reader into the period of history, and encourages one to imagine what it might have been like to be one of Jefferson's slaves. Jefferson himself comes out as very much a product of his times and culture, and he is seen as a man of contradictions. On the one hand, he is an extravagant dandy, enamored of the good life. On the other hand, he is trying to put into practice great principles in a world that is very entrenched in the status quo. It is a tide that ultimately he cannot wholely swim against, and in the end, goes with the flow. What I wish had been in the book was what happened to Sally and Jefferson's children? Their fates are alluded to, but there is no development of this in any great detail. The author infers as to the quality of the relationship of the parents, but little is said of what happened to the family later. For instance, where are their descendants today? Perhaps that would violate someone's privacy. In any case, this is an exhaustive study, and should serve the serious student of history well.



2. I am fascinated the person Thomas Jefferson. Sally Hemings must have been also an extraordinary woman, having kept the affection and quasi-wedding with such a high spirited statesman.
   Puzzling is the position of slave/master/lover/mother, as well as Jefferson's ambiguity concerning slavery within the context of the Revolution.
   My only reservation about the book is its length, due to a lot of details, some of which are speculative.
   A great contribution to history of America.
   Michel Debost



3. There are many interesting insights but they are overwhelmed by the author's speculations about how the characters felt and actions So long winded with page after page of unfounded conclusions.



4. This book tells the story of the slave family of the early American President, Thomas Jefferson. It was very interesting reading and it is surprising that this family were so successfully hidden from common knowledge for so long! The book is well researched and very readable. It doesn't become too dry and factual, and is written in such a way that it tells the story of the Hemingses from the start of their captivity as slaves, right through to the aftermath of Thomas Jefferson's death.



5. The author is to be commended for outstanding research and an objective perspective of the relationship between Jefferson and the Hemingses. However, her writing is very repetitive and relies heavily on assumptions based on very little concrete evidence.
   Nevertheless, the book was valuable for giving a thorough look at the complexities of the slave/owner relationships during that time period. I feel like I have a much better understanding of Jefferson, for better and for worse, than before.

5 comments about Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era (Oxford History of the United States).

1. THIS IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE BOOK I HAVE EVER READ COVERING THE CIVIL WAR ERA. IT TAKES YOU BACK TO THIS TIME AND PLACES YOU RIGHT IN THE ACTION. HAVING A GREAT GRANDFATHER WHO SERVED AS A NCO IN THE SHENADOAH VALLEY FROM 1863-1865 I REALLY APPREDIATED THE DETAIL. I RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN ALL OF THE DETAILS LEADING UP TO AND DURING THIS WAR.



2. This book gives an amazingly comprehensive review of the American Civil War. Not only are the battles and strategies laid out, but also the causes. The book does a beautiful job of showing the heated rhetoric that steadily built between the North and South in the years leading up to the war. It is a telling lesson for any culture: When extreme voices drown out moderates, a nation can set itself on an inevitable course toward violence. Both North and South felt threatened by the other side. The South thought the North wanted to wipe out their slave-based economy and their culture, not just through the law but by promoting slave uprisings. And the North thought the South wanted to control the Federal government and the Supreme Court to spread slavery across the land. Notherners feared violent slave hunters crisscrossing the North in search of escaped slaves, causing violence and destruction as they pursued their catch. In the end, war proved unavoidable. The book is beatuifully-written. Although full of material, it never felt dense. It goes into enough depth so you can understand each event yet neccessarily leaves some details out so as to get through the entire war in one book. A fantastic overview.



3. If you a political fanatic and Civil War buff well then this book is for you. Personally, I am not into politics so that portion of the book was not for me. It took over 300 pages to finally get to the first battle of the civil war, The Battle of Bull Run. Everything up to that point was ladened with hard core political reasons as to why the civil war was fought.



4. Following on from What Hath God Wrought, this next in the Oxford series focuses on the American Civil War and the two sides who both claimed to be fighting for freedom. The book does a fantastic job educating the reader on the causes of the conflict in brisk detail (which sounds like an oxymoron). I have to confess that as a Canadian, I was never taught in detail what brought the conflict about so my personal thanks to McPherson for doing so in a very engaging way. And though it is characterized as a sectional conflict between North and South over the future of slavery - much more played into it. The economics of the North and South were another factor of which slavery played a commercial and societal role in the latter.
   
   Of course, most of us (regardless of nationality) are aware of the shocking statistics of the dead and wounded in this conflict. What the author does is provide the reasons why the counts were so high by convincing us of strategic flaws in executing the war on both sides coupled with modern weaponry. I was shocked at how inept the Union General McClellan was and how long it took to take action against his leadership. The battles are well described and the horror of 700,000 combat casualties ably communicated. The Civil War confronted the fact that human bondage was incompatible with the founding ideals of the republic and a huge price was paid as a result. The Introduction to the book states that there are over 50,000 titles on this subject, I recommend this one as it truly is a superb effort.



5. Many consider this to be the definitive single volume on the U.S. Civil War (1861-1865). Author James McPherson combines keen analysis, moving prose, and timely documentation to describe the bitter War Between the States from pre-war tensions through post-war analysis. The first chapters cover the many events leading up to this tragic conflict; Fugitive Slave Law, Missouri Compromise, Bloody Kansas, Dred Scott, John Brown, etc. The author shows why North and South were increasingly at odds from the 1840's to early 1860's. Slavery wasn't the only reason for this sectional animosity, but it was the one issue that ultimately couldn't be compromised. Readers see how seven Southern states were so embittered by Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860 that they seceded without even bothering to speak with the new President-Elect. Soon came the tense opening bell at Fort Sumter, followed quickly by war fever, further secessions, and thousands rushing to join the Blue and Gray. McPherson covers every vital battle and event in concise, impressive detail. From Anaconda Plan to Antietam, Emancipation to Elections, and Virginia to Vicksburg, we enjoy an inside look at the crucial political and military strategies, successes, blunders, etc. We also learn about the top political and military figures; Lincoln, McClellan, Sherman, Grant, etc., for the Federals (Union), plus Davis, Johnston, Jackson and Lee for the Confederacy (Rebels). Readers come away better-informed and comprehending why the North's victory was far from inevitable; many will want to read further on specific aspects of this horrid conflict.
   
   Professor James McPherson (Princeton) richly deserved his 1988 Pulitizer Prize for this superbly readable book. I'd have liked a look at post-war Reconstruction, plus a couple additional pages on medical practices, the naval blockade, Southern politics, and the lives of ordinary soldiers. Still, if you'll only read one book on the Civil War, this is an excellent choice.

5 comments about Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.

1. A pantheon such as Abraham Lincoln and his presidential term(s) have been scrutinized and considered in uncountable written and spoken works. The trick then for any author wishing to undertake a new study is to find a fresh angle or (at best) unearth previously undiscovered and revelatory documents. Doris Kearns Goodwin chooses the former as she expertly exposes the Lincoln presidency as one which had a politically savvy, but initially overly antagonistic cabinet, which Lincoln must then manage while exhorting his administration to follow his leadership. In fact, the overriding point with this superb narrative is Goodwin extoling the seemingly limitless political acumen of Lincoln while he oversees a time in American history as crucial as any before or since.
   
   Crucial members of his administration are profiled here, providing the reader with a unique, sort of "back-door" look at the Lincoln presidency. We see how the personalities of Edward Bates (Attorney General), Simon Cameron (Secretary of War), William Seward (Secretary of State), Gideon Wells (Secretary of the Navy) and Salmon Chase (Secretary of the Treasury) are generally elitist in nature and condescending to Lincoln in particular while initially being astounded that such a seemingly torpid character could become president. Asked to then participate in the administration in cabinet level positions, they almost collectively see their role as administering and reigning over the government while Lincoln serves largely as a figurehead. Goodwin's mastery here is showing the slow evolvement of Lincoln's ability to form a cohesive advisory body while applying his heretofore unseen political prowess in managing the government in an ever broadening crisis that threatens separation of the Union.
   
   He takes office and is immediately faced with increasing southern secessionism and forced to take action to maintain the Union. The start of and subsequent prosecution of the Civil War absorbs his administration...Goodwin provides a dissecting view of the war from the government's perspective and shows again and again how Lincoln is adept at taking and managing one crisis after another. Topics such as his inserting himself into the war strategic effort where he recognizes the ineffectiveness of George McClellan, the dismissal of Cameron as Secretary of War with the brilliant decision to insert Edwin Stanton in his place and his administering of domestic policy to meet the war effort are given a fascinating review by Goodwin that goes far in further amplifying Lincoln's stature as a great executive. He finds an obscure general in Ulysses Grant and inserts him as commander of the war effort... another prescient decision that accelerates the conclusion of the war. All this while continuing to build strong and ever growing loyalties among his partisans forcing them (with the exception of Chase who continues to vehemently disagree and disparage Lincoln) to reconsider their initial perceptions of him and his leadership capabilities. Goodwin is overwhelmingly illustrative of the forming of these ties and the deep personal affection that each cabinet member thus renders.
   
   The denouement of the war and Lincoln's assassination with the subsequent actions of the government, particularly Stanton, are the highlights of the book. We see the heart wrenching outpouring of affection and respect from the American public and the administration as all recognize that a great leader is no longer among us. The disarray that follows Lincoln's death is certified when Andrew Johnson takes office and we see how his southern leaning tendencies is the arbiter of a long and unnecessarily drawn out reconstruction effort...Goodwin compares this with how Lincoln may have handled reconstruction and determines that a much more compassionate and reasoned effort would have most assuredly ensued.
   
   There are a surprising number of authors of historical biographies that are criticized for deification of their subject...and true, some of these paint their character study in an unreasonable light, but not so with this magnificent investigation of the Lincoln presidency by Doris Goodwin. An estimable scrutiny of his political faculty integrated with a marvelous historical narrative, Goodwin makes Lincoln "hero worship" chic while dispassionate at the same time, a tough combination. Highest recommendation. .



2. 
   After Reading Gore Vidal's Lincoln, for the second time, I yearned to read more. I wanted to read more on Lincoln's Presidency including some of the people around him especially, Salmon Chase, William Seward,Edwin Stanton and lessor known characters as Kate Chase,John Hay and John Nicolay.
   
   I found Team of Rivals a brilliant read on the Presidency and had no trouble in devouring the whole book.
   
   The characteristic that impressed me the most, was Lincoln's refusal to carry grudges against those who opposed him and in many cases won them over to his side to help him achieve his goals in carrying him all the way to the Presidency.
   
   Lincoln had a very strong belief in himself that allowed him to pick the very best men for his cabinet, to withstand the pressures of a divided political party and to carry on a war that for a very long time contained one reversal after another, and not least of all a wife that didnot know when to stop spending, and with all of this a death of a beloved son.
   
   I found the details in the book were very informative and enteresting and were not a hinderance as some have suggested. Highly reccomended



3. Doris Kearns Goodwin has shown again why she is one of the greatest historians of this generation. I understand the scandals that have arisen about possible plagiarism, but Kearns Goodwin writes great history. In this book, she not only gives detailed stories of the lives of these great men and their families. She also probes the motivation of the men who are the characters in the book and the issues that controlled the political climate of the period from 1840 to 1860.
   But Kearns Goodwin gives us much more even than this. She takes you to the era about which she writes. She tells you what clothes were being worn, what was for sale in the stores, how influential newspapers of the time were and how dirty train rides were.
   Pick up this book and take yourself back to the 1850s and live the lives these great men lived.



4. Received item in a very timely manner...would certainly recommend this seller to others...keep up the good work! God's blessings and prosperity to you!



5. I read this book for a graduate organizational theory class. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read, however, I would advise not choosing it if you are taking two other classes at the same time, as well as being a mother and working full time... :) I was VERY busy! The book itself is terrific; whatever you learned about Lincoln in school was nothing! You will gain insight into one of the most brilliant minds of recent times. A master politician who always remained true to himself and his convictions it will also give you food for thought as to how you conduct yourself professionally as well as socially. There is nothing not to love about this book.

5 comments about Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer (P.S.).

1. For everything historians know about Lincoln and that history teachers teach us about the President, seldom is said in the classroom about Booth. This book is amazing and really details the chase of Booth. I really enjoyed it and recommend it highly for anyone who is interested in Lincoln.



2. Saw this book at the Newsmuseum in DC. This is an excellent reading to any historian and Lincoln buff. Easy reading and hard to put down until the end. Reading this book fits in as a good supplement to Team of Rivals and also stirs interest to those who know the haunts of DC. I've learned a lot of historical facts tha I never heard of before. The price was right from Amazon.com.



3. Bought this book for my father and he really enjoyed it- he's a big big history buff, generally the only books he prefers so, his outlook on any book is a very high review.



4. The book MANHUNT, the 12 Days of Chasing Lincoln's Killers was fasinating. This book opened my eyes as to how the manhunt for John Wilkes Booth took place and how it was ended. This is a must for any Lincoln reader.



5. I bought this book with the understanding it would be mostly about the actual chase of Booth and his accomplices. I am a historian and know basically ALL the details of the assassination and was disappointed that so much of the beginning of the book was involved with those details. I know why he included it, trust me, I am not saying that he shouldn't.. since this book was written for the general public looking to read interesting history.. not some of the normal *really* boring historical stuff that is churned out. But as I said, I thought it would briefly talk about the killing then go on quickly to the chase.... as it is.. it's a pretty interesting account.
   
   The book reads very fast. It's pretty fascinating BUT... my biggest complaint is Swanson's need to be absolutely disgusting with the morbid details. You can honestly tell he relishes in describing the blood, blood, and more blood. I think if I read the word blood once I read it hundreds of times. Listen, it's not that I can't handle reading it. It is all (supposed) fact. I love slasher movies. I don't mind violence in books or film, but I have to ask.. did Swanson think he had to include all the disgusting details in order to make his book interesting? Let's just say it's not for the faint of heart and I can't help but think the gore is just exploited instead of written in a useful way.

5 comments about China Marine: An Infantryman's Life after World War II.

1. In this book, the Marine E. B. Sledge details his time in China during 1946, immediatley following his wartime experience in the Pacific during WW II (which he documented in "With the Old Breed"). His description of a nation (China) on the brink of catastrophe is eloquent. I think he was spared from combat death, if for no other reason, to write these books. I would have liked to met Mr. Sledge, shook his hand, and congratulated him on his service and his humanity.



2. I found this book to be highly informative as well as humbly written. (which shows much about the author's character as well as personality) Eugene Sledge writes about his adventures in China while stationed there with the rest of k/3/5 (an oft overlooked time in Marine Corps history) and about his experiences in the post-war homecoming. The part about him registering for classes made me gain a new appreciation for what vets talk about when they say, "the hardest part is often surviving the surviving."
   
   Read this book, you won't be disappointed.



3. This book by the sledge hammer gives a perspective of the war in the Pacific rarely told. Vivid in detail and emotions,it's a must read for any history buff. I highly recomend it.



4. China Marine is the only sequel to E.B. Sledge's With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, which provided a unique, infantryman's view of the Pacific action in WWII. China Marine also provides a unique viewpoint, historically, of a brief period of post-war occupation duty by an enlisted Marine in mainland China. What this book lacks is the non-stop action of the first book. Much of this slim volume describes the day to day duties of enlisted Marines in a garrison situation and details of his frequent visits to the Forbidden City. There are interesting highlights of his relationship with a patrician Chinese family, but the details (as well as the family itself) are lost in time. For those who read and liked Mr. Sledge's original book, China Marine will be an enjoyable read.



5. CHINA MARINE is a unique and fascinating book. If you are a Marine book reader like me or a WWII fan then you probably read or should read HELMET FOR MY PILLOW or WITH THE OLDER BREED by Sledge. They are classic Marine histories from the Pacific. In CHINA MARINE Sledge leaves the action behind to give us insight into the occupation of China at the end of the war and to coming home and going back to civilian life, often a very, very hard thing to do. As always Sledge is open, honest and perceptive in his writing. You should add this book to your reading list. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

5 comments about Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (Newbery Honor Book).

1. Ah, the inveterate child liar. The chronic juvenile dissembler. Is there any more classic character you can name? Whether it's The Artful Dodger, Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, The Great Brain or Soup from the Soup books, there is always room in the canon for just one more boy fibber (girl fibbers are not yet appearing the same numbers, I'm afraid). Now the best tellers of untrue tales often come from Southern soil. They are born below the Mason-Dixon line and are capable of great feats of derring-do, all the while escaping their own much complicated shenanigans. Credit Rodman Philbrick then with coming up with a fellow that's so far North that to go any farther he'd have to be Canadian. It's Homer P. Figg it is. Orphan. Storyteller. And the kid that's single-handedly going to win the Civil War, whether he intends to or not.
   
   When you're stuck living with a scoundrel there's nothing for it but to make the best of things. And for years Homer P. Figg and his older brother Harold have made the best of living with their nasty ward and uncle Squinton Leach. A man so dastardly that he finds a way to sell Harold into serving as a soldier for the Union. The year is 1863 and when Harold ends up accidentally conscripted Homer is having none of it. Why his brother shouldn't legally be serving at all! Without further ado Homer takes his propensity for stretching the truth and Bob the horse so as to catch up with the army and get his bro back. Things, however, do not go smoothly. Before he finds Harold again Homer must endure blackguards, nitwits, shysters, pigs, a traveling circus, and an unexpected tour of the stratosphere. It all comes together at a little place called Gettysburg, though, where Homer must face the facts of his situation and do his best to keep the people important to him alive. Backmatter includes "Some Additional Civil War Facts, Opinions, Slang & Definitions, To Be Argued, Debated & Cogitated Upon."
   
   I'm a sucker for a children's book that knows how to coddle a tongue-happy phrase. Why just last year I was charmed by Sid Fleischman's "The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West" with it's delightful play on Twain's flexible language. Now I've not read Philbrick before. Maybe if I picked up something like his "Freak The Mighty" or that "The Last Book In The Universe" of his I'd find a similar bit of wordplay. Whatever the matter, I found myself much taken with the syllables that get bandied about in "Homer P. Figg". First there are the names. Villains get to luxuriate in monikers like Squinton Leach, Stink Mullins, and Kate and Frank Nibbly. Then there are the descriptive sentences. Leach's villainy is pitch perfect, particularly since it is first introduced as "A man so mean he squeezed the good out of the Holy Bible and beat us with it, and swore that God Himself had inflicted me and Harold on him, like he was Job and we was Boils and Pestilence." Another nasty character is described as one for whom "Every part of him smells of rot." Actually, now that I look through my notes I see that a lot of the sentences I've highlighted as being fun descriptive passages have to do with odor. Like this later passage which reads, "The pungent perfume of the pig is still upon you. The suffocating scent of the swine exudes from your person. In a word, sir, you stink." Catchy.
   
   In the midst of all this wordsmithing it's probably a temptation to let the language carry the plot and characters with little to no regard for the emotional content. But I like that Philbrick has couched this tale as an emotional quest of sorts. I mean, if you name your hero Homer then obviously there's some kind of Iliad/Odysseus thing going on there. Particularly if you push said hero into a quixotic series of scrapes. I kept sort of expecting our own Homer to go blind at one point, but if Mr. Philbrick ever felt the urge to remove his Homer's sight he did a noble job of repressing that inclination. Instead he builds on Homer and Harold's relationship. One example comes when Homer thinks about a time when he climbed onto a barn roof when he was younger. "It was a mean thing, wanting to scare my big brother who had always been so kind to me. But if felt good, too, like I enjoyed testing how much he loved me." So a book that could simply have been a series of unrelated incidents is held together by good old-fashioned brotherly love.
   
   I mentioned at the beginning of this review what a novelty it is to find a casual liar like Homer coming out of the North rather than the South. And when Homer mentions on the very first page that he and his brother won the Battle of Gettysburg, then that he was from Maine on the second, I should have realized the connection. After all, I saw "Gettysburg" the film when it was in theaters. But it takes an author like Philbrick to put the pieces together for a reader like myself. Pieces he has a clear view of and isn't about to mess up. He doesn't romanticize war any either. At one point Homer makes a mad ride across a field of battle and what follows is an emotionless list of the horrors he witnesses along the way. Things like "Thirsty men sucking sweat from their woolen sleeves" and "A dead man on his knees with his hands folded, as if to pray." Mamas don't let your children grow up to be Civil War soldiers.
   
   I was also interested to see that Homer mentions historical details that kids don't always get a chance to see in school. Facts like, "when President Lincoln declared that slaves in the Confederacy were free, he didn't dare free the slaves in he Union states like Maryland, Delaware, or Kentucky, in fear the border states might join the rebels." Children's literature has a tendency to sort of bypass that kind of information, but I think it makes a historical novel like this one all the richer for its complexity. And of course all historical novels for children grapple with a question that is never easy; How do you deal with terms that are historically accurate and odious to contemporary ears? I refer, of course, to "the n-word". Now, to be perfectly honest, there are at least two villains in this book that should be tossing that word back and forth like it's nobody's business. Yet they don't. They don't and I admit that this didn't ring untrue to me while reading the book. It was only later that I stopped myself and went back to see how Philbrick dealt with that conundrum. The answer is that the bad guys say either "slave" or "darky". And there might be some problems with the "d-word" as well, were it not for a good Quaker man who corrects Homer on this point later on. "If a man has dark skin, say that he is colored, or that he is African." I'm sure that some historians amongst us might have something to say about those terms as well, but as far as I can tell Philbrick covers his bases and doesn't have to cheat. Later Homer also refers to two workers as "Indians" though he acknowledges, "These Indians are from China - similar eyes, but a different tribe." Contextualizing ignorance in terms that modern kids can understand. A tough job.
   
   No matter how tough the subject matter or the work, "Homer P. Figg" is a strong and snappy little novel. Funny and with a plot that keeps moving at a lightning quick pace. Very few readers will find themselves bored by what Philbrick produces here, and many will be caught learning a little something in the process. One of the best of its kind.



2. This is an excellent historical fiction book for teachers to read during their Civil War-American History unit. The story is interesting and I believe will keep the attention of most 5th grade students. As a teacher reads the different aspects of the Civil War era, the teacher can reinforce what really happened during the war. I look forward to sharing this book with my students this next school year. One caveat--teachers may have to have a values discuss about the importance of people telling the truth.



3. This was a very unique way to look at the civil war. It showed how the war effected families and how those families fought to stay together. This book is very age appropriate for 5th through 8th graders.



4. Well, it seems war is a popular theme for children's books in 2009, and Rodman Philbrick's The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg is waving the flag on the Civil War front. The title character is a twelve-year-old orphan living with his older brother and cruel uncle-in-law in a little town in Maine. But when his brother is illegally sold as a replacement for a rich draftee to the Union Army, Homer must rise to the occasion and be the man of the family. He runs away to save his brother, and there his adventures begin.
   While Homer's adventures are worthy of a Mark Twain short story (perhaps we could throw in a couple jumping frogs?), they are nonetheless moving. The horrors of the Civil War are related with laudable attention to the sensibilities of the time and the narrator's unique personal voice.
   Note must be made that while this was certainly a thoroughly researched historical novel, it does contain one or two glaring anachronisms in speech. In addition, the dialect is perhaps a little overdone at times, and the author seems slightly prone to use of overdramatic phrases. Nonetheless, a very entertaining and enjoyable read that is sure to be devoured by boys and girls alike.



5. About the Book: When Homer's older brother is illegally sold into the Union Army, Homer sets off on an adventure to get his brother back. His trip leads him to a traveling road show, a hot air balloon ride, the underground railroad, and the Battle of Gettysburg. Here are Homer's (mostly) true adventures!
   
   GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: We all know those tweens (or even adults!) who exaggerate their stories. Homer's story is one those exaggerator's would love. This is one I listened to on CD and I thought it worked really well as an audiobook. The narrator was great!
   
   Many times historical fiction can be bland and boring and it's not always a popular genre with tweens. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg is a book I would give to reluctant history readers. Homer is a great narrator and his story is action packed and lots of fun.
   
   
   I really liked how the author was sneaky in his way of including historical facts. Readers don't realize they are learning until they get to the back of the book and see the glossary and facts included.
   It's a short book and it's pretty fast read. I don't know that it will be widely read or have wide appeal, but I think readers who enjoy historical or adventure books would have lots of fun reading this one.

5 comments about March.

1. MARCH certainly is one of Brooks' best books. The writing device she uses to tell the story is inventive. MARCH delves further into the family but I enjoyed the unflinching look at the Civil War from the main character's point of view.



2. I bought this book for my grand daughter. We had just seen Little Women on stage and never hearing much about the Dad decided she'd love to read it and I will when she's done.



3. I am leading a Book Club review of March. While I think it's very good -- is it Pulitzer Prize worthy? I don't know! My companion, who is a Civil War buff, has found some historical errors.



4. A provocative work that caused me to revisit Little Women, a book that I loved in my childhood. The connections betwwen the two works became clear, and I loved how Brooks developed them. My only disappointed was not with March, but with Little Women. The charm that I recalled the book had, with the perspective of adulthood, turned to saccharine. Perhaps it still appeals to the young, but it is best that readers of March keep their existing memories of Little Women and not try to refresh them. It is not necessary to do so to enjoy March,



5. Of course, all the words were there, so it served its purpose as a book club choice. However, I was quite disappointed in the condition of the book. Many pages were turned down or wrinkled and a great many had underlinings -- many times through the words that were being underlined, and many pages had comments in the edges. It's the first time I've purchased a book though Amazon that was not 100%.

5 comments about We Still Hold These Truths: Rediscovering Our Principles, Reclaiming Our Future.

1. this is a concise history of our constitution and what lead up to these enduring documents.A must for every conservative!!!!!



2. This book includes some interesting discussions about the history of our fundamental documents and American values, quoting selectively from notable founding figures. What it doesn't do is establish a solid logical connection between these discussions and the veritable glossary of modern conservative philosophy outlined in the last chapter: anti-government, anti-regulation, anti-welfare, anti-gay, anti-secular, anti-deficit, pro-free enterprise, and pro-"liberty" (whatever that really means -- you won't find a scholarly or even thoughtful definition).
   
   Despite being published in late 2009, this book doesn't even mention any of the events that occurred from 2000 onward. Bush, Cheney, 9/11, the almost-depression of 2008 -- none of them are even mentioned. The straw man Spalding attempts to destroy is almost exclusively the progressive movement of the early 20th century -- without even attempting an analysis of the degree to which this movement corresponds with liberal ideas in the early 21st century.
   
   Especially in the last chapter, Spalding resorts to the name-calling so common to today's "political debate" -- with appointed judges, intellectual elites, mainstream journalists, bureaucrats, even Europeans as a broad class, all falling victim to his conservative keyboard.
   
   If you're a conservative, you already agree with all of his conclusions, and you don't need to read this book. If you're a liberal, the lack of logic will infuriate you. If you're just hankering for some American history, there are more reliable sources. Save your money.



3. If you are looking to better understand the meaning of the "Declaration of Independence" and "The Constitution," especially the way it's authors intended it to interpreted, "We Still Hold These Truths" is the book for you. The book is a well written, easily understandable look at a vitally important subject, whose meaning is invariably twisted by liberal and so called conservative leaders alike. Going back to the Constitution's foundational principles contained in "The Ten Commandments," that were championed by our wise, God fearing forefathers could turn the woes of the nation around. The self evident,unchanging truths found in Scripture, "The Declaration of Independence" and "Constitution" are what enabled The United States to become the shinning light to the rest of the world that it became. Matthew Spalding substantiates his arguments with many quotes from the document's writers, which give insight into the wisdom and moral integrity of these men. He also discusses the founder's views on the tough issue of slavery. How we treated the Indians wasn't mentioned, but Westward expansion had not taken place at that time, while slavery was a huge issue in the light of founder's contention that "all men are created equal, with certain inalienable rights." This book will give you a deep appreciation for not only our founding fathers and the enlightened documents they wrote, but for our Godly history as well. I also very much appreciated the moral integrity I saw in the author own personal beliefs, which were presented in a gentle, not heavy handed manner.



4. Matthew Spalding has written a timely book for all Americans!
   
   Reading the book, I found myself contrasting the principles of our Founding Fathers elaborated in our Freedom Documents - the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights - with what is happening today.
   
   Spalding enumerates the founding principles of our Nation: Liberty, Equality, Natural Rights, Consent of the Governed, Religious Freedom, Private Property, the Rule of Law, Constitutionalism, Self-Government, and Independence.
   
   The Declaration of Independence listed the core principles of our Nation, the Constitution provided a means to realize those principles, and the Bill of Rights protects the right of American citizens.
   
   However, what do we have today? Progressives speak of a "living Constitution" and have interpreted the Constitution in light of modern events, only to increase central authority. But the Constitution is a piece of paper, not a living organism! The Constitution enumerates the principles that have led to the greatest and most lasting nation ever, because it allowed individual freedom!
   
   Americans know our Nation is in trouble. Matthew Spalding proposes a return to our founding principles to reclaim our future. And what is encouraging is that he is optimistic!



5. This book, and Mark Levin's "Liberty and Tyranny" should be required reading for all high school and/or college history and civics courses. They provide an understanding of why our now beleagured constitutional republic has been, and remains the best hope for a civil society. Spalding coherently, unabashedly, and with a minimal amount of "flag-waving" relates the history of our country's development through the often prescient words of the founders, and the philosophies of western civilization.