HEROES OF 1776

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch and his former clerk Nitze look at the primary signers of the Declaration of Independence and what happened after their famous act of defiance.

Rather than stopping at the signature page, the co-authors follow the tense build-up and the dramatic fallout. Descriptions of imprisonment, financial ruin, and other consequences bring a sobering depth to what can often feel like a distant historical milestone. The book’s strength lies in this focused deep dive, illuminating what happened after the ink dried. But that narrow lens also limits it. While the text celebrates the notion that “all men are created equal,” it only briefly (and insufficiently) acknowledges those who were excluded, relegating this critical context to a small aside. Women, children, and people of color are mentioned as revolutionary participants but largely glossed over, their stories sidelined rather than deeply explored. Ellison’s illustrations have a softly polished, painterly realism that gives the book a stately feel, matching the idealistic tone. And while the artwork depicts one notably Black figure, the book offers little context for who she is or what her presence represents. With advanced vocabulary, dense text, and historical assumptions that may go over younger readers’ heads, this work is best suited for those already equipped to question the story it tells—as well as what’s left out.

A compelling chapter of history—but not the full declaration.