GEORGE VS. GEORGE

In an uncommonly balanced view of the American Revolution for younger readers, Schanzer places King George III in a better light than young readers—American ones, anyway—generally get to see him, while noting that neither side was innocent of rash actions or atrocities. Developing the theme that “there are two sides to every story,” she begins by comparing the two Georges, finding numerous similarities in both their public and private lives. She goes on to compare British and Colonial styles of government (more similarities), then chronicles the escalation of resistance over new taxes into full-scale war, compares the rival armies’ dress and general behavior, and finishes with parallel accounts of the Georges’ later lives. Loosely basing her illustrations on period images, Schanzer paints small labeled portraits on rough canvas, which gives them the look of needlepoint, and adds actual, cited quotes in dialogue balloons. This carefully researched reminder that the Revolution was an “us vs. us” conflict, not an “us vs. them” conflict should be required reading for all young students of American history. (index, multimedia source list) (Nonfiction. 8-10)