Customer Reviews

The Signers: The 56 Stories Behind the Declaration of Independence

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

 

 

As Dennis Brindell Fradin tells us in his illuminating introduction: "...The signers of the Declaration, rather than those who voted for independence, have long been honored as the nation's founders. That is because, by placing their names on the Declaration, they announced to the world their willingness to risk everything for the cause of independence. The British targeted the fifty-six signers for special punishment. The homes of twelve signers were burned, and nearly twenty of them lost much of what they owned. According to some estimates, nine signers died as a result of hardships they suffered during the Revolution. Yet not one signer changed his stance on independence. All of them kept the promise they had made in the Declaration of Independence-that they would stake their "Lives...Fortunes, and...Sacred Honor" on their country's cause." Meet America's first fifty-six heroes whose belief in independence was so strong, each was willing to risk everything for freedom. Mr Fradin cleverly divides this book into thirteen sections, one for each colony, and begins each chapter by first discussing the background and history of the colony, before detailing the life of each signer. Each fascinating biographical sketch includes details about their lives, both before and after they signed the Declaration, and the contributions each made to America's independence. Mr Fradin's easy to read and intriguing text, engages, and is enhanced by illustrator, Michael McCurdy's evocative artwork. Together, word and art inspires, and brings the stories of these brave men to life on the page. Perfect for youngsters 10 and older, The Signers celebrates the triumph of the human spirit, and includes a readable copy of the Declaration of Independence, an Afterword, Bibliography, and Index to augment lessons and further enlighten. This is non-fiction at its very best, and definitely a living history lesson that shouldn't be missed. "Independence forever!"

John Adams thought July 2nd would be the day Americans would celebrate, not the 4th. That is just one detail Fradin and McCurdy bring out. History is so easily made bland, but their work breaks many assumptions apart in an easy to digest way. An important book for students and a good book for adults, with enough information between the lines to keep some of the rebelion alive. History is made not by dates, but by people decidedly taking steps toward multiple goals. I recommend this book.

Very readable and enlightening story of all the signers of the Declaration. Fradin is a master of choosing just the right details about the lives of these men to bring them alive and interest his readers. It will also strike young people how precarious the lives of women and children were.

This is a good book for a history class because it gives a lot of information on every person who signed the Declaration of Independence. Everyone knows that John Hancock signing the Declaration but what about the others? This book clues you in on everyone and their lives. I gave it four stars because it was good and it had a lot of information.

This reads like a storybook, telling a great deal about the men who signed our declaration. Fillng in gaps in the men's stories, it is also a lively read about life in revolutionary times.

The author seems to try to be even-handed, saying that we will never really know about Betsy Ross's involvement in the flag, for instance, but that she and her family were indeed important at the time. Reasonable.

It is all the more disturbing, in this seemingly well-researched book, to have Fradin assert that Thomas Jefferson certainly was the father of Sally Hemings' children. Just like Betsy Ross, no one knows. (DNA evidence was found to link a Jefferson male with ONE of her known children--but there were 25 other Jeffersons in the area at the time.) Unfortunately now a good many of Fradin's other assertions are suspect.

I just don't have the time to check every single fact in a history book; I want to enjoy the book, itself. I'll be reading this volume with a much more critical eye now, and cautious about recommending it to children.

It's interesting -- I have the book from 1848 called "Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence", and this book is very similar. But this book has line sketch illustrations that grab your attention. Roughly two pages of text for each signer, and two illustrations each (on average).

This book does not really capture the bravery of these men as well as the 1848 book did, and its section on Ben Franklin is nowhere near as inspirational.

Still, this book belongs on your child's bookshelf. They can use it as an overview to decide which founder to study next. Also includes the text of the Declaration of Independence, which I am having my kids memorize this year.

My two sons are eight and ten years old and know nothing of American history (thanks public schools!) and so I've tried to fill in the gaps when I've found engaging material to work with. Right now I've started reading through this book with them at the rate of one "signer" a night, and I am learning things too, like how Samuel Adams failed as a beer brewer (which makes those Samuel Adams Boston Lager commercials downright ironic).

The people who founded this country were both remarkable and yet very human. Read this and they will become much more real to you.