One of six new volumes considering westward expansion until the early 20th century, focusing on documents, photos, maps, art, etc., in the collections of the Library of Congress. Each book includes an introduction, detailed timelines, and a brief bibliography, with considerable overlapping among them. Since Native Americans are covered in another volume, The Conquest's title is somewhat misleading—though the Mexican War is included, the bulk of the material here concerns diplomacy, treaties, borders, and events leading to statehood in the various territories; ``Manifest Destiny'' is described, but the displaced Indians are barely mentioned. The text here is dry, but the illustrative material is rich and varied and, overall, well reproduced, though there are some cartoons with tiny print; it's also well captioned. Native Americans of the West is more informative as to original sources and dates, however, and is notable for pointing out where many of the historical pictures, in representing the white man's point of view, are inaccurate. Other volumes are Bridging the Continent (trails, wagon trains, transportation); Exploring the Frontier; The Legendary Wild West (Daniel Boone to Teddy Roosevelt; artists and Indians, along with the obvious); and The Riches of the West (natural resources; occupations). In sum: the six make a splendid resource, especially pictorially. Each has an index; for reference use, a general index would be invaluable (publisher, please note!). (Nonfiction. 9+)
Pub Date: March 15, 1992
ISBN: 1-56294-129-1
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Millbrook
Review Posted Online: May 20, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1992
Categories: TEENS & YOUNG ADULT HISTORY
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BOOK REVIEW
Over 200 years after his death in a duel with former Vice President Aaron Burr, founding father Alexander Hamilton’s story is a major player in popular culture.
Brockenbrough begins her narrative with a list of the contradictions of Hamilton’s life and then sets out to describe many of them in detail. Hamilton’s wretched childhood and struggles for survival and an education set a tone that depicts him as the consummate self-made man whose flaws damaged both his political career and personal life. Hamilton’s courtship and marriage to Elizabeth Schuyler, a daughter of one of the country’s most influential families, is a key part, along with prominent figures from American history. Sometimes the intricacies of Revolutionary War strategy and Constitutional Convention maneuvering slow things down, making the pace uneven. However, tidbits about Hamilton’s role in the episode with Benedict Arnold and his close relationships with fellow soldier John Laurens and his sister-in-law Angelica Church are intriguing. The story is targeted to an older audience than Teri Kanefield’s Alexander Hamilton: The Making of America (2017), so the sex scandal that derailed Hamilton’s political career is part of the story, as is, of course, the duel that ended his life. After the epilogue, the volume includes information on 18th-century medicine, attire, and warfare among other contextualizing topics ; the volume will be illustrated with archival material (not seen).
With the demand for all things Hamilton still strong, this will resonate with many teen readers. (timeline, source notes, bibliography, index) (Biography. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-250-12319-0
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: Aug. 7, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2017
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The story of a flawed, complicated man.
The son of a distant Minnesota congressman and a demanding, well-educated mother, young Charles Lindbergh grew up shuttling among the family farm, his grandfather’s Detroit home, and Washington, D.C. Intelligent but uninterested in school, he began flying at age 19, getting involved in barnstorming and becoming an Air Service Reserve Corps officer. He used a combination of mechanical aptitude and moxie to successfully cross the Atlantic in a 1927 solo nonstop flight and was instantly propelled into worldwide celebrity. Success came at tremendous cost, however, when his infant son was kidnapped and murdered. Lindbergh was also his own enemy: His infatuation with eugenics led him into overt racism, open admiration for Hitler, and public denunciation of Jews. Fallen from grace, he nonetheless flew 50 clandestine combat missions in the South Pacific. He became an advocate for animal conservation but also had three secret families in addition to his acknowledged one. Fleming (Eleanor Roosevelt's in My Garage!, 2018, etc.) expertly sources and clearly details a comprehensive picture of a well-known, controversial man. Her frequent use of diaries allows much of the story to come through in Charles’ and his wife Anne’s own words. The man who emerges is hateable, pitiable, and admirable all at the same time, and this volume measures up to the best Lindbergh biographies for any audience.
A remarkable biography. (bibliography, source notes, picture credits, index) (Biography. 12-adult)Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-525-64654-9
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
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