CAUSE

The post-Civil War period known as Reconstruction was a revolutionary time of enormous possibility, but it ultimately was an “unfinished revolution” in racial democracy, leaving it to future generations to hash out what democracy really meant. Bolden’s excellent prologue neatly frames the crux of Reconstruction: “Were freed people due anything more than freedom?” In an informative and attractive volume chock full of reproductions of period photographs, engravings and other archival materials, the story of Reconstruction is fully related. Though the writing is awkward at times, and captions sometimes take over the pages, the information is solid, and an epilogue discusses the shortcomings of Reconstruction and the issues that remain. A solid bibliography and lengthy source notes are provided, but no guide to sources for young readers. Despite the shortcomings, still the best resource to date for young readers. (maps, illustration credits, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)