Customer Reviews

The Revolutionary Swamp Fox (Bodie, Idella. Heroes and Heroines of the American Revolution.)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The author has chosen slices of historic literature to catch the spirit of Francis Marion as a boy and a soldier.

Woven into the factual events of Marion's life are details of life in the "low-country" of South Carolina. Children will enjoy reading about Marion's childhood escapades.

In the second section of the book, the author describes Marion's life as a soldier. Children will be able to make the connection between the childhood experiences in the swamp with the success of the "Swamp Fox" as a soldier during the American Revolution.

In addition to the story, the author provides a glossary of words needed for understanding, as well as, discussion topics that could be used in a classroom setting.

This book is for children and should be so advertised. It is in no sense an "awesome" book. I expected a historical account of Francis Marion's specific achievements during the Revolutionary War but all I read about was a very general story. I would not recommend this book to anyone but elementary school children.

Since I have known Mrs. Bodie since I was six (suffice it to say, over 30 years), I admit prejudice in her favor. However, one must agree, that she is a thorough and meticulous researcher. A school teacher for over 30 years, her first love has always been to encourage young people to be curious about history. So, if this book seems a bit juvenile to your sophisticated senses, give it to your child who will thoroughly enjoy it!

As the author of THE REVOLUTIONARY SWAMP FOX, I would like to make clear that this small volume is one of the series, HEROES AND HEROINES OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. In my visitations to speak to elementary and middle school students, teachers have told me they needed supplementary material in the teaching of this period of U.S. history. Consequently, I am endeavoring to complete 12 volumes of persons, black and white, who distinguished themselves during the War of Independence. The books are not intended for indepth study of the war or hero. Rather,emphasis is placed on the youth of the subjects-as far as research allows-anecdotal material of interest, and the qualties that made them role models. Each volume includes a glossary, sources used, and a section on "Things To Do and Think About." Thus, they are geared toward being used in the classroom. Other volumes already released include Thomas Sumter, THE FIGHTING GAMECOCK; Sgt. William Jasper, THE MAN WHO LOVED THE FLAG; Emily Geiger, THE SECRET MESSAGE; and Laodicea(Dicey)Langston, SPUNKY REVOLUTIONARY WAR HEROINE. Rebecca Motte, THE PATRIOTIC WIDOW, will be released in April 2001 and Nathanael Greene, THE QUAKER COMMANDER, in fall 2001.All are published by Sandlapper Publishing, Inc., in Orangeburg,SC, and are available through amazon.com.

Since I have known Mrs. Bodie since I was six (suffice it to say, over 35 years), I admit prejudice in her favor. However, one must agree, that she is a thorough and meticulous researcher. A school teacher for over 30 years, her first love has always been to encourage young people to be curious about history. So, if this book seems a bit juvenile to your sophisticated senses, give it to your child who will thoroughly enjoy it!

Idella Bodie's book on the Francis Marion, also known as the Swamp Fox, has several shortcomings. The book is small in size, only slightly larger than the jewel box case for a compact disc, and has about 66 pages of text in large print. These in themselves are not shortcomings, however, the book contains several typographical errors... The book also contains factual errors regarding swamps. The author states that the swamps of South Carolina smell bad. This is not true. I have spent at least fifty weekends exploring the swamps of that State, including the Congaree Swamp and the Four Holes Swamp. Swamps do not smell bad. I would be surprised if the author even spent one day visiting and marveling at the shimmering beauty and fairy-tale mysteries of the swamps of South Carolina. Another shortcoming is the poor writing. The narratives are fragmentary and relatively undeveloped. The episode regarding the Native American (page 23) is a bit far fetched -- I think that Idella Bodie has been watching too many Robin Hood cartoon movies. The study section on pages 79 to 81 are boring, and is sure to frighten most children away from this book. Is there anything good about Idella Bodie's book? Yes. The drawings are excellent. Unfortunately, the artist responsible for the exquisite pen-and-ink drawnigs was not credited. The map on pages 70-71 is a good idea. The book deserves at least one star, because it covers one of my favorite things, namely the South Carolina swamps. On the other hand, the writing is immature and resembles that of an ambitious high school student, at best.

Since I have known Mrs. Bodie since I was six (suffice it to say, over 35 years), I admit prejudice in her favor. However, one must agree, that she is a thorough and meticulous researcher. A school teacher for over 30 years, her first love has always been to encourage young people to be curious about history. So, if this book seems a bit juvenile to your sophisticated senses, give it to your child who will thoroughly enjoy it!

The most factual book that I have ever read. As many thumbs up as i can.