Revolution (History News)

Grade 4-8-A great contribution to a unique series, this title presents a mock retrospective of articles that appeared in the fictionalized newspaper The History News. Headlines such as "Redcoats on the Run!" and "Tsar Nicolas Abdicates" draw readers into the stories that chronicle the American, French, Russian, and Chinese Revolutions through made-up news reports of the day and interviews with key figures. Articles are short, many written tongue-in-cheek, and packed with facts and trivia; they also provide good examples for students assigned to create their own historical "documents." Maynard includes such features as an opinion poll of American colonists and an interview with the former Louis XVI. Colorful, original illustrations and reproductions, and photos of 20th-century events, make for an attractive presentation, with practical touches such as a time line and brief mentions of other uprisings, e.g., the 1819 Colombian liberation and the 1854 Australian miner revolt. Each of the four chapters ends with a "Letter from the Editor," giving a 1999 perspective on the events. The book reads as though it must have been fun to write, but does at times sound like it was written by a middle school student (it is doubtful that Jiang Kai Shek would have referred to his opponents as "clueless country bumpkins"). Despite this lack in consistency-which many kids won't even notice-it is eminently suited to serve as a supplement to history units.
Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL
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