American Voices

American Voices

Specifications

7.5" X 9.5"; 128-160 pages; Illustrated in Color & Black-and-White; Library Binding

Interest/Age Group

Grades 6+

Special Features

Time Line; Critical Thinking Questions; Glossary; "To Find Out More"; Web Sites; Index

About the Series
Historians frequently make use of primary-source documents to bring the past to life. Revealing the real words of actual inhabitants of the past, they invite readers to interpret the "evidence" for themselves. Similarly, American Voices offers young readers firsthand, sometimes arresting insight into key periods of America's history. Set within a narrative framework that includes a concise introduction to the period under discussion, each book of the series features about forty samples of original writings from major periods in American history. Included are newspaper accounts, speeches, diaries and journals, letters, and government archives. The entries are as diverse as they are fascinating. Of varying lengths and accessibility, they are written by men and women, the famous and the obscure, soldiers and generals, farmers and explorers, factory workers and statesmen. Enhanced by photographs, maps, posters, cartoons and other primary-source illustrations, they shed dramatic light on a complex past. A group of critical-thinking questions follows each entry; unusual words are defined near the selections; and time lines enhance each book. These features help readers develop a deeper understanding of history through primary American sources.

Highlights and Features

-	A treasure chest of lavishly illustrated primary sources from American history
-	Set within a narrative framework that offers excellent background information
-	"Think about This" sections focus readers' thoughts on key issues and hone critical-thinking skills


	[The Opening of the West] Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People NCSS-CBC, 2004
	[Series] Second Place, Middle School/High School Series THE NEW YORK BOOK SHOW, 2003

American Voices

[Reconstruction, The Women’s Movement]
"These books offer overviews of topics, with the unique perspective of primary source materials. They will be useful for classroom discussions, lesson plans, and student reports."
VOYA, August 2007

[The Great Depression, The Civil Rights Movement, The Cold War]
"These excellent resources stand out from other titles on these frequently assigned subjects because they deal strictly with primary sources, contain top-notch illustrations, and enable students to grasp the concepts without being overwhelmed."
School Library Journal, February 2005

"This title is an excellent addition to middle and high school history collections ... Recommended."
Library Media Connection, August/September 2003

[The Civil War, The Opening of the West]
"Excellent introductions to historical research."
School Library Journal, April 2003

"...outstanding set which should be a part of any serious library collection."
Children's Bookwatch, January 2003

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