Why Not, Lafayette? [Hardcover]

Jean Fritz (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Traces the life of the French nobleman who fought for democracy in revolutions in both the United States and France.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With her typically light touch, Fritz (You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton?) presents a brief and colorful biography of the aristocratic young Frenchman who played an integral role in the American Revolution. Bored with the leisurely life of a court nobleman and longing for glory, the 19-year-old marquis defied not only his father-in-law but his king to help the Americans in their fight for freedom. His fiery, passionate personality (as well as his much-needed money) earned him a place in the hearts of many colonists, particularly George Washington, and he won renown through several battles, including the decisive encounter at Yorktown. After the war, when Lafayette returned to France, he became embroiled in the revolutionary politics of the age, spending time in jail during the Reign of Terror despite his liberal leanings and standing up to Napoleon and, later, King Charles X when they ignored their promises to the people of France. Thanks to the dynamic portraits of military and political figures, readers with no background in French or American revolutionary history will easily make sense of the rush of battles and political wrangling described here. As usual, Fritz works in humanizing details: Washington's distaste for physical display was such that he once scolded Alexander Hamilton for playfully slapping him on the shoulder; near the end of her life, Lafayette's wife professed to be so in love with her husband that she often felt faint just looking at him. Lively, vigorous and just plain fun to read. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Grade 5-8-In an informal yet informative narrative, Fritz presents the life of the French nobleman who came to espouse the democratic cause and worked toward achieving it. He not only fought successfully in the American Revolution, and proved himself as a leader of men, but also participated in advancing freedom in his own country and freed slaves in French territories. The author recounts the Marquis's full and honorable life, which spanned many important events in history including the French Revolution and the rise and fall of Napoleon. There is a lot of history contained in a little over 70 pages but despite its brevity, the book provides a great deal of information. A background knowledge of the time is useful to understanding some of the events fully. A well-executed, full-page pencil drawing appears in every chapter and serves to enliven the presentation. This competently written and documented title will not disappoint Fritz's many fans.
Marlene Gawron, Orange County Library, Orlando, FL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile; 1St Edition edition (October 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039923411X
• ISBN-13: 978-0399234118
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,192,342 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 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Bland Book, May 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Why Not, Lafayette? (Hardcover)

I had a hard time forcing myself through this book. I gave it to my 10 year old son, who is a Francophile and a voracious reader, and he couldn't get through it. Just kind of dry for a biography of a person who was probably pretty interesting.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Why not indeed?, December 8, 1999

By 

[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Not, Lafayette? (Hardcover)

Lafayette, young brash and bored, takes as his life motto the "Why Not?" on his family crest and answers the call to adventure by leaving the ennui of European court life and taking up arms in the American cause. His personal life, including wife and kids left at home, his adoration of Washington, and his instrumental role in the success of the faltering colonial revolution are all adequately explained for young readers, but there is an uncharacteristic flatness to the telling. Fritz' many other biographies certainly qualify her to tackle this enigmatic subject, but the intricacies of political intrigue seem to oscure the storyline. Lafayette's life seems to have been about boredom, about opposing constituted authority and about swashbuckling adventure, no matter who pays the price. A tough subject to cook down for readers 10-14, by any standard. It's a great read for an overview of Lafayette's life, but lacking in the fire and passion of Fritz's other books.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not boring, September 6, 2005

By 

Book Lover "Jen" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Not Lafayette? (Unforgettable Americans) (Mass Market Paperback)

I love this author! She is a great children's author. The first line is fascinating, where she tells us Lafayette's whole name (which is quite long!) The book may include pointless details in it as another reviewer points out, but those details are what makes the ancient history come to life! Most children love books by Jean Fritz and if you think this one is too dry for them to read alone - read it aloud! It's a really great book!