Where Was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May?
Common Sense Note
Henry's childhood and career are described in simple sentences, using a clever plot device (the date in the title); both the black-and-white and color illustrations are very simple.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Tanya Smith
May 29, Patrick Henry's birthday, was occasionally an eventful date in his life of Patrick Henry--he was elected Virginia's governor. Youngsters will enjoy the book's early passages, with their ample description of kid's stuff: swimming holes, walks in the woods, fishing. Young Henry was a child many readers will relate to.
In the second half of the book, the author outlines Henry's adult life, which parallels one of the most significant eras in American history. After his strong, spellbinding voice helped Henry win his first legal case against the crown of England, he vowed to use it to keep America free and independent of outside rule.
The background information in the author's note could have been easily absorbed into the text; doing so would have made some passages more interesting.
While the drawings are simple, the most interesting illustrations manage to show off Henry's many personalities: the lazy youth reclining on a sack of salt; the inspired, wildly gesturing orator. The book's best illustration is a color drawing that shows Henry in his element: deep in the woods, alone with nature, independent, living off the land. It was his desire to protect this cherished way of life that drove Henry to take up the fight for a free, independent America.
Jean Fritz wrote several other Revolutionary War-related works in the same style, including Can't You Make Them Behave, King George? and And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? Kay Moore's If You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution uses a Q&A format to teach children about the American colonies' struggle for independence.
From The Book
It was as if Patrick Henry had soaked up through the bottoms of his bare feet the two things that he prized most all his life--freedom and the good Virginia land. Not that he thought much about them. He took his days for granted, and as for the future, he had no plans.
Plot Summary:
Give me liberty, or give me death! Patrick Henry was a consummate communicator who knew how to stir a crowd by "sending" his voice. This fast-paced account of one of America's most influential statesmen retraces Henry's happy Virginia childhood and his career in American politics. A quick read, with lots of illustrations, both color and black and white.
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