Star-Spangled: The Story of a Flag, a Battle, and the American Anthem
By:
“O say can you see” begins one of the most recognizable songs in the US. Originally a poem by Francis Scott Key, the national anthem tells the story of the American flag rising high above a fort after a night of intense battle during the War of 1812. But there is much more to the story than what is sung at ball games. What was this battle about? Whose bombs were bursting, and why were rockets glaring? Who sewed those broad stripes and bright stars? Why were free black soldiers fighting on both sides? Who was Francis Scott Key anyway, and how did he end up with such a close view?
Star-Spangled tells the whole story from the perspectives of different real players—both American and British—of this obscure but important battle from American history.
List of characters. Preface. Epilogue. Places to visit. Time line. Glossary. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Full-color illustrations and reproductions.
ISBN: 9781419741029
JLG Release: Sep 2020
Sensitive Areas:
Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War , Social Issue: Slavery in Historical Context
Topics:
Francis Scott Key (1779-1843)
, "The Star-Spangled Banner" (song)
, Battle of Baltimore, 1814
, Baltimore, Maryland
, Flags
, Nineteenth-century US history
, War of 1812
Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
School Library Journal
School Library Journal
The National Anthem is a well-recognized song across the United States, but many people may not know the story of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Congress declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812. In 1813, flag-maker and Baltimore resident Mary Pickersgill was asked to make two flags to hang at Fort McHenry. The narrative, which takes place d The National Anthem is a well-recognized song across the United States, but many people may not know the story of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Congress declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812. In 1813, flag-maker and Baltimore resident Mary Pickersgill was asked to make two flags to hang at Fort McHenry. The narrative, which takes place during the War of 1812, describes how poet Francis Scott Key found inspiration while watching the Battle of Baltimore. While it took more than 100 years for “The Star-Spangled Banner” to officially be adopted as the national anthem, Baltimore took great pride in defending Fort McHenry under the 15-star, 15-striped flag. Stories of American business owners like Pickersgill and shipbuilder Thomas Kemp, who squared off against Admiral George Cockburn and his Royal Navy, will have readers cheering for the United States and caught up in the city’s battle preparations. Quick chapters introduce a colorful array of people from Britain and the United States, including those who were enslaved and those who were free. Beautiful full-color photographs and artwork bring this story to life. End matter includes a full bibliography, a glossary, a list of places to visit, and an epilogue to find out what happened to key characters after the battle. This is a great addition to collections where American history is a hot item.
Book Details
ISBN
9781419741029
First Release
September 2020
Genre
Nonfic
Dewey Classification
973.5
Trim Size
8 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Page Count
176
Accelerated Reader
N/AScholastic Reading Counts
N/ALexile
N/AFormat
Print Book
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Abrams
Potentially Sensitive Areas
Violence: War/Harsh Realities of War , Social Issue: Slavery in Historical Context
Topics
Francis Scott Key (1779-1843), "The Star-Spangled Banner" (song), Battle of Baltimore, 1814, Baltimore, Maryland, Flags, Nineteenth-century US history, War of 1812,
