Washington at Valley Forge
By:
A 2008 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honorable Mention. "That winter, the British had their best chance to crush the American rebellion. Washington himself warned that his army was about to 'starve, dissolve, or disperse.' And yet the army did not fall apart. In June, the rebels marched out of Valley Forge tested, toughened, and ready to fight." In addition to providing fascinating details about how the soldiers of the Continental Army lived in Valley Forge, this book also paints brilliant portraits of the men who led them: Alexander Hamilton, the Marquis de Lafayette, Friedrich von Steuben, and, of course, George Washington. Source notes. Selected bibliography. Index. Black-and-white, sepia-toned, and full-color illustrations.
ISBN: 9780823420698
JLG Release: Dec 2008
Sensitive Areas:
None
Topics:
George Washington (1732-1799)
, The Revolutionary War
, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
, Supplies
, The Continental Congress
, The Continental army
, General Horatio Gates (1727-1806)
, Hunger
, Desertion
, Troop strength
, The Battle of the Kegs
, Disease
, Hut building
, Washington's staff
, The Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834)
, Foraging parties
, Martha Washington (1731-1802)
, Camp entertainment
, Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand Baron von Steuben (1730-1794)
, Military discipline
, Revolutionary weaponry
, Morale
, France
, Alliances
, The Battle of Monmouth
, The siege of Yorktown
, British surrender
Awards & Honors
2009 NCTE Orbis Pictus, Honorable Mention; 2008 Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth; 2008 School Library JournalBest Books, Nonfiction; NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2009, History/Life and Culture in the Americas
Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Booklist*, The Horn Book Magazine, The Horn Book Guide^, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal*, Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
Horn Book
Freedman again illuminates a piece of American history: here, the Revolutionary War, using the winter of 1777–78 as a focal point. His customary graceful prose, eye for the telling detail, and clear narrative arc make this a pleasure to read. Frequent quotations, including first-person reminiscences, and judiciously chosen artistic interpretation Freedman again illuminates a piece of American history: here, the Revolutionary War, using the winter of 1777–78 as a focal point. His customary graceful prose, eye for the telling detail, and clear narrative arc make this a pleasure to read. Frequent quotations, including first-person reminiscences, and judiciously chosen artistic interpretations add to the appeal of this invitingly designed book. Maps, source notes, timeline. Bib., ind.
Junior Library Guild
What is most impressive about Washington at Valley Forge is that Russell Freedman has taken an iconic moment in American history, one about which we have some very settled ideas, and made it surprising, dynamic, and new. He imbues the crisis faced by the Continental Army in 1778 with all the complexity and human detail befitting the critical What is most impressive about Washington at Valley Forge is that Russell Freedman has taken an iconic moment in American history, one about which we have some very settled ideas, and made it surprising, dynamic, and new. He imbues the crisis faced by the Continental Army in 1778 with all the complexity and human detail befitting the critical historical event that it was.
Eyewitness accounts add a great deal of texture to the history. “There comes a soldier;” wrote Dr. Albigence Waldo in his journal, “his bare feet are seen thro’ his worn out shoes . . . his shirt hanging in strings, his hair disheveled, his face meager; his whole appearance pictures a person forsaken and discouraged.” Freedman explains how the Continental Army not only survived, but prospered through the winter and spring of 1778: the nature of the living quarters they built, how they ate, and how they spent their time. He reveals that one reason for the privations suffered by the troops was that Congress did not believe the situation was as dire as it was; Washington feared that correspondence describing the situation would be intercepted by the British, who might attack if they understood how vulnerable the Revolutionary forces were.
The crisis is resolved as spring arrives and the army receives more supplies and support. Readers will experience a palpable sense of relief when General Steuben begins drilling the troops, when Washington learns that the King of France has signed a treaty of alliance with the United States, and when the American soldiers take back Philadelphia. This book is a treat for all readers, particularly those who enjoy American history and military narratives.
Eyewitness accounts add a great deal of texture to the history. “There comes a soldier;” wrote Dr. Albigence Waldo in his journal, “his bare feet are seen thro’ his worn out shoes . . . his shirt hanging in strings, his hair disheveled, his face meager; his whole appearance pictures a person forsaken and discouraged.” Freedman explains how the Continental Army not only survived, but prospered through the winter and spring of 1778: the nature of the living quarters they built, how they ate, and how they spent their time. He reveals that one reason for the privations suffered by the troops was that Congress did not believe the situation was as dire as it was; Washington feared that correspondence describing the situation would be intercepted by the British, who might attack if they understood how vulnerable the Revolutionary forces were.
The crisis is resolved as spring arrives and the army receives more supplies and support. Readers will experience a palpable sense of relief when General Steuben begins drilling the troops, when Washington learns that the King of France has signed a treaty of alliance with the United States, and when the American soldiers take back Philadelphia. This book is a treat for all readers, particularly those who enjoy American history and military narratives.
Book Details
ISBN
9780823420698
First Release
December 2008
Genre
Nonfiction.
Dewey Classification
973.3/341
Trim Size
10 1/2" x 9"
Page Count
80
Accelerated Reader
Level 8.8; Points: 3;
Scholastic Reading Counts
Level 11.5; Points: 6;
Lexile
Level 1210L
Format
Print Book
Edition
-
Publisher
Holiday House
Potentially Sensitive Areas
None
Topics
George Washington (1732-1799), The Revolutionary War, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Supplies, The Continental Congress, The Continental army, General Horatio Gates (1727-1806), Hunger, Desertion, Troop strength, The Battle of the Kegs, Disease, Hut building, Washington's staff, The Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834), Foraging parties, Martha Washington (1731-1802), Camp entertainment, Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand Baron von Steuben (1730-1794), Military discipline, Revolutionary weaponry, Morale, France, Alliances, The Battle of Monmouth, The siege of Yorktown, British surrender,
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