Freedom Seeker: A Story About William Penn (Creative Minds Biography) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Lisa Harvey (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-A highly fictionalized portrayal of Penn's life from his childhood in London and his early exposure to the Quaker faith to his rise in prominence within the religion and his founding of Pennsylvania. Swain makes little attempt to document thoughts and quotes attributed to Penn or other individuals. She describes emotions that are believable, but not necessarily verifiable. "When William refused to remove his hat to honor his father, Sir William cried out. Hadn't he raised his son better than this? When William used the more familiar term thou when talking to his father, Sir William despaired. Such bad manners!" This writing style may make the information accessible to reluctant readers, but it is unsuitable for reports, and the blotchy black-and-white drawings detract rather than add to the book's appeal. Norma Jean Lutz's William Penn: Founder of Democracy (Chelsea, 1999) focuses more attention on Penn's founding of the colony of Pennsylvania and is a better choice for reports.
Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Lerner Classroom (February 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087614931X
• ISBN-13: 978-0876149317
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,502,027 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CAN WE HANG ON TO WILLIAM PENN's HARD-WON FREEDOMS ?, February 20, 2005

By	mcHaiku "nmi" (Brown County INDIANA) - See all my reviews

"Freedom Seeker" is an excellent introduction to the man whose seeking set him on a long journey of faith. In his youth he became a "convinced" member of the Quaker faith. These beliefs and practices made him extremely unpopular with the ruling majority in Britain, including his father. (Happily, they were reconciled before the elder's death.) William Penn suffered much for justice & civil liberties.

Readers will learn that Penn was imprisoned time & again in disease-ridden and rat-infested jails. But these experiences did not scar him as the small pox of his childhood did. He is revealed as a disciplined person who would be a good role model for young readers.

Penn later followed his quest to set aside land in America for other freedom-loving people. He helped the Lenni Lenape natives as well as emigrating Pennsylvanians. While establishment of the Pennsylvania colony was his great achievement, he was able to live there for only a short time.

There will doubtless be some adults reading this book, who use it & the well-chosen bibliography as a 'starting place' for quests of their own. The basic truths of Penn's life and faith are depicted honestly for a wide audience. Some criticism is printed above but does not include a letter refuting it, as printed by SLJ. As for an opinion that "blotchy illustrations detract" we should all take to heart this quote from the late Richard F. Ericson, phD: "We cannot make value judgments for other people" !

FREEDOM IS ELUSIVE. Learning about the sacrifices made for faith will make us cherish our own more; and hopefully, help us better understand the beliefs of others. Reviewer mcHAIKU gives FIVE STARS to the author AND to the students who learn from the life of William Penn.