Parents' Guide to Where Was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May?

Book Jean Fritz Biography 1975
Where Was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May? Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

By Tanya Smith , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 9+

Fast-paced account of major American statesmen.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 9+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

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.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Youngsters will enjoy this quirky book's early passages, with ample description of kid's stuff: swimming holes, walks in the woods, fishing. The second half outlines Henry's adult life, which parallels one of the most significant eras in American history. 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 show off Henry's many personalities: the lazy youth reclining on a sack of salt; the inspired, wildly gesturing orator.

May 29, Patrick Henry's birthday, was occasionally an eventful date in his life of Patrick Henry -- he was elected Virginia's governor.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Henry's life. Do you see any signs in his youth that he would become such an important figure? What in his young life prepared him for his future accomplishments?

Book Details

  • Author : Jean Fritz
  • Illustrator : Margot Tomes
  • Genre : Biography
  • Book type : Non-Fiction
  • Publisher : Penguin Group
  • Publication date : January 1, 1975
  • Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
  • Number of pages : 48
  • Last updated : July 12, 2017

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Where Was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May? Poster Image

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate