Six Books for Teaching Early U.S. History

I taught fifth grade for several years and in our state that means teaching U.S. History during colonial times up to writing the Constitution.  I collected a number of books on the topic and here are my favorites.  Five of them I previously reviewed.  Just click on the titles below to get more information.

Night Journeys is about indentured servitude during colonial times.  Peter York wants to escape the family who has adopted him.  He finds two runaway servants and knows he can get a reward for turning them in.  Capturing them leads to complications he did not foresee.

 Chains: Seeds of America by Laurie Halse Anderson

Time-Travel with Exceptional Americans by Rush Limbaugh

King George: What Was His Problem? by Steve Sheinkin

The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin

The Fighting Ground by Avi

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The Fighting Ground by Avi

In my opinion, a well-written historical fiction novel teaches more about history than most text books out there.  The Fighting Ground by Avi is just such a book.

  


Jonathan is certain he wants to go to war against the British.  This thirteen-year-old discovers within twenty-four hours of leaving home, that war is not as glorious as he thought.  

I would definitely read this aloud to a fifth grade class during a War of Independence unit.  The journal format puts the reader in the action and experience of this time period.
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Time-Travel with Exceptional Americans by Rush Limbaugh

Yes, that Rush Limbaugh has written a series of books for children.  (I know some of you may unfollow me for confessing I read the book.  I have a diverse audience.)

I read the three books because I am always looking for fiction based on this time period.  Of the three I liked the second one featured above: Rush Revere and the First Patriots.

Rush Revere is a substitute teacher for a middle school history class.  He takes a small group of students time-traveling to sites of early American history with the help of Liberty, a talking horse.  The illustrations include photographs of artifacts from this time period.

 
When it comes to assigning a ribbon, I would definitely consider the political makeup of my classroom.  There wasn't much about the books that would upset anyone except the name of the author.

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The Notorious Benedict Arnold by Steve Sheinkin

Last week I reviewed Steve Steinkin's King George: What was his problem?  This week I want to share a book by the same author about the same time period, but more appropriate for older students -- middle school and above.

The Notorious Benedict Arnold explains how a patriot became a traitor.  I remember being bored in history classes growing up and I probably would have done better if someone like Steinkin had been my instructor.  I love finding out about people and what motivates them.  Benedict Arnold was really a hero in the War of Independence.  This book explains how his misstep makes sense in the context of the situation.



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King George: What was his problem? by Steve Sheinkin

This summer I discovered Steve Sheinkin and read half a dozen of his books.  Two are focused on the American Revolution.  I plan to share King George this week and The Notorious Benedict Arnold next week.

King George: What was his problem? explains the events that led up to the conflict without talking down to the audience or assuming that the reader already knows about U. S. History.  I found it entertaining as well as educational.  I would definitely read it aloud to my class if I taught fifth grade.  (We teach U. S. History in fifth grade in our state.)




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Chains: Seeds of America – Laurie Halse Anderson

I have to be honest in this review and say how much I wished that this had been a stand alone book instead of a series.  My second choice was having the main character in the first book be the same in the second.  I learned so much about slavery during the Revolutionary War.  I wanted to keep following the main character Isabel and her sister Ruth and find out what happened to them.  Instead, the author chose to follow another character's story line for the next book leaving the reader hanging.

Synopsis: Isabel and Ruth are promised freedom when their owner dies, but another couple take them as slaves.  Isabel works for Loyalists, but realizes that the Patriots may be her way to ultimate freedom.

I recommend this book to mature middle school students and above.



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