Full Text Review(s)
"Anecdotes highlighting the human element make these standard history topics more memorable. For example, Yorktown explains why General Washington had to schedule battles around certain dates–most men only enlisted for short periods. However, the authors have isolated the events in order to keep the narratives short, and the tight focus necessitates a loss of detail, so that additional resources will be needed to present the events in context. Fradin explains that the United States received help from France and highlights General Rochambeau’s assistance to Washington, but Lafayette is not mentioned. In Gold Rush, a highlighted box describes the effects of the population influx on Native Americans, but does not say that many California immigrants were Chinese. Salem maintains an objective tone. It notes the relatively recent theory that contaminated food may have caused hallucinations in people throughout the area. In all three books, the stock images include reproductions of period paintings, woodcuts, engravings, and documents, as well as modern maps. They share an oddly colorized quality (perhaps brightened from the originals?), but they are plentiful and add some visual appeal."

[Jamestown]-"An entry in the new Turning Points in U.S. History series, this concise introduction briefly traces the history of early European attempts to colonize America and discusses the founding of Jamestown, the extreme difficulties the settlers faced, and the crucial help of the Indians. The literal turning point for the early Jamestown settlers, who, facing starvation, had decided to leave, came when they received news of the first official governor’s imminent arrival with new colonists and an ample supply of food. Each double-page spread includes at least one captioned color reproduction of a painting, sketch, print, or document. A concise introduction that will come in especially handy as Jamestown celebrates its quadricentennial this year. Appendixes include a glossary, a time line, short lists of recommended books and Web sites, and a bibliography. — Carolyn Phelan"

[Jamestown, The Alamo, The Declaration of Independence]-"Each of these titles deals with a seminal point in American history. Alamo includes the background to the battle, as well as an account of its aftermath and some information on famous combatants. Declaration of Independence describes the unrest that led up to the signing of the famous document, how Jefferson composed it, and the uncertainty surrounding the vote for independence. Jamestown provides detail on earlier settlements in the New World, then describes the hard times that the colonists had and the settlement’s legacy. The clear, concise, and dynamic style of writing simplifies the information without dumbing it down. Although one illustration in Jamestown is mislabeled, in general, the photos, paintings, and maps in these books add a wealth of information. These works will also be useful for older struggling readers, who won’t be embarrassed to use them for basic information.–Esther Keller, I.S. 278, Marine Park, NY"

"The titles in this series introduce important events that changed American history from the first settlement to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The author brings these historical events to life by focusing on the leaders who initiated change, their hardships, and their courageous spirit. Elementary students will see American history from a human perspective and will utilize these books for browsing and research. A variety of archival photographs, maps, illustrations, cartoons, and engravings complement the straightforward text in an appealing layout. Color boxes provide relevant facts for further study such as: key individuals, definitions, quotes, and excerpts from speeches. More difficult terms appear in boldface and are subsequently defined in the glossary. Bibliography. Timeline. Web sites. Index. Recommended. Theresa Metter, Media Specialist, Valley View High School, Germantown, Ohio"