Make Way for Sam Houston [Hardcover]

Jean Fritz (Author), Elise Primavera (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 6 and up

Traces the life of the soldier who led the fight for Texas' independence from Mexico, served as governor and senator, and opposed secession during the Civil War.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fritz's wit, sensitivity and understanding of the young reader have won her numerous awards and honors. They have also granted her the ability to make history and historical figures come alive. Her new book chronicles the colorful life of Sam Houston from his boyhood in Virginia to his death in Huntsville, Texas. While this biography is not easy reading, and a knowledge of the Civil War is helpful in understanding Houston's story, Fritz tempers the complicated background material with amusing anecdotes, such as the time one of his children interrupted a senate session while Houston was the governor of Texas, by locking the senators in the meeting room. Fritz's thoroughly researched narrative is supplemented by writings and quotes by Houston and his acquaintances. Involving reading for biography and history buffs.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6 Jean Fritz has done it again. In her tightly woven, well-researched biography of the Texas hero, she has demystified Sam Houston by presenting the facts of his life and providing interpretations. Her writing turns this larger-than-life character into a very real person. Houston was a self-educated man who fought in the War of 1812, served as a congressman and governor of Tennessee, fought for Texas independence, served as its first president and later as governor and senator after Texas joined the union. Much of his life was influenced by his boyhood reading of hero stories, especially those of Caius Marius, a Roman general and statesman. Fritz does not glide over Houston's weaknesses such as his problem with alcohol and his marriage to an Indian woman when still married to another woman. She delights in recounting Houston's dramatic flair. He stole the show from Mirabeau B. Lamar, elected to replace him as president of Texas, on his inauguration day by arriving dressed as George Washington and proceeding to give a three hour farewell address to the extreme consternation of Lamar. Other biographies of Houston have joined the ranks of o.p., but even collections that still have them should make room on their shelves for this splendid biography.Therese Bigelow, Hampton Public Library, Va.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons (February 3, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399213031
• ISBN-13: 978-0399213038
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #682,354 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"The question I am most often asked," Jean Fritz says, "is how do I find my ideas? The answer is: I don't. Ideas find me. A character in history will suddenly step right out of the past and demand a book. Generally people don't bother to speak to me unless there's a good chance that I'll take them on." Throughout almost four decades of writing about history, Jean Fritz has taken on plenty of people, starting with George Washington in The Cabin Faced West (1958). Since then, her refreshingly informal historical biographies for children have been widely acclaimed as "unconventional," "good-humored," "witty," "irrepressible," and "extraordinary."In her role as biographer, Jean Fritz attempts to uncover the adventures and personalities behind each character she researches. "Once my character and I have reached an understanding," she explains, "then I begin the detective work--reading old books, old letters, old newspapers, and visiting the places where my subject lived. Often I turn up surprises and of course I pass these on." It is her penchant for making distant historical figures seem real that brings the characters to life and makes the biographies entertaining, informative, and filled with natural child appeal.An original and lively thinker, as well as an inspiration to children and adults, Jean Fritz is undeniably a master of her craft. She was awarded the Regina Medal by the Catholic Library Association, presented with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award by the American Library Association for her "substantial and lasting contribution to children's literature," and honored with the Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature, which was presented by the New York State Library Association for her body of work.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book for Young Adults, April 11, 2001

By 

"[e-mail]" (Fort Worth, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Make Way for Sam Houston (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book for many reasons. First, the boring history information was presented in an enjoyable manner. Second, I felt like I got to know who Sam Houston was as a person, not just what he did for Texas. Third, I was happy to find out that the information that was presented was well researched and not just from speculation. Of course, it is not Shakespeare, but it made Texas history a bit more bearable.