A History of US, Book 2: Making Thirteen Colonies (History of US) (Paperback)

by Joy Hakim (Author) "In 1607 a dazzling comet lit the sky over Europe..." (more)
Key Phrases: New England, John Smith, King James (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Gr. 4-8. The second volume in the History of US series recounts the settling of the original colonies, from the founding of Jamestown in 1607 to the opening of the Wilderness Road in 1775, which allowed settlers to traverse the Appalachian range and reach the interior of the continent. Hakim writes like a storyteller, relating seventeenth-century experiences to current events and drawing analogies that make the seventeenth-century happenings intelligible. The book is laid out in a way that dispels any notion that it is a textbook: virtually every page has an illustration; sidebars give anecdotal or supplementary information; and the typeface is a respectable size. Hakim deals with the colonies one at a time, documenting their founding, their type of government, and the principal occupations of the settlers before and after they came to the New World. She sometimes urges readers to insert themselves into a situation in order to better understand the experience. Having an author question or address the reader is frequently annoying, but Hakim's comments work. Black-and-white illustrations include photographs of vintage paintings and documents, maps, line drawings, and decorative elements. Time line; bibliography. Sheilamae O'Hara --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews
The second in Hakim's projected ten-volume ``A History of US'' (also available: The First Americans, ISBN 0-19-507745-8). The tone is notably informal, even jocular, but not at the expense of content. Focusing here on Jamestown, the New England Puritans, and the other European colonists, the author brings a formidable amount of illuminating detail to a lively narrative, makes valuable connections between past and present, introduces important concepts in their original context, shares a contagious enthusiasm for history's pivotal ideas, colorful characters, and their stories, distinguishes between documented fact and conjecture, and reiterates such thoughts as that--among imported ideas, as well as both settlers and Indians--``Some are good, some are not so good,'' with examples to prove it. Her careful depiction of the Native American point of view is remarkably evenhanded. The breezy style occasionally leads to imprecision (``the Pope...didn't approve of all that marrying. So King Henry founded the Church of England''), but generally the text is lucid, accurate, and extraordinarily immediate; questions addressed to the reader are genuinely stimulating and provocative. Sidebars and captions amplify the main text; the many period illustrations are often crisply reproduced, but sometimes reduced beyond clarity (the flimsy see-through paper doesn't help). In every sense, a fresh look at our history; Hakim's perceptive eye, no-nonsense approach, and wit are all welcome. Chronology; ``More Books to Read'' (from an Aliki biography to Miller's The Crucible); index. (Nonfiction. 10+) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 3 edition (September 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195153227
• ISBN-13: 978-0195153224
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #307,046 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clearly written - fun for all ages!, March 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of US: Book 2: Making Thirteen Colonies (1600-1740) (History of U.S., Book 2) (Paperback)

Our two children are home-schooled, and as we have started collecting the newly issued quarters, the kids came up with lots of questions about them and the origins of each state. This book, along with its companion volumes has answered all our "coin questions" (unlike the Encyclopedia Britannica!) The book is written clearly and simply enough for my 6 year old to grasp, and interesting enough to hold the attention of the adults!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptionally fine writer ... she makes kids love history!, January 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of US: Book 2: Making Thirteen Colonies (A History of Us, 2) (Paperback)

I teach fifth grade in Eugene and have used her books for a number of years now. I love using trade books to teach about history but Joy's books give children a framework from which to consider whether the historical fiction they so love is well written and researched or not. She teaches right along with me in my classroom through her books - we even have a framed picture of this author on our wall along with pictures of Lincoln, Washington, Frederick Douglass, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Her style is crisp and kid-pleasing. She deals with big issues and with important ideas. Children - and teachers - want to read her books over and over again because there is always something new to learn, something interesting to rediscover.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Detailed look at American History, March 10, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Jackson, Wyoming) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of US: Book 2: Making Thirteen Colonies (A History of Us, 2) (Paperback)

As a homeschooling mother of a 5th grader I started using A History of US (vol 2) as a supplement to our standard text. It wasn't long before we abandoned the textbook.

Joy Hakim relates all the important events while sketching profiles of people you've heard of (and some you may not have heard of). She places events in historical context, discusses the development of ideas, quotes original sources, and defines outdated and difficult words. My criticism of the book is that she sometimes makes blanket statements that simplify the people of the time. For instance, concerning the Salem witch trials: "The leaders of the community, who might have done some thinking, didn't."

I like the short chapters that develop one topic, the range of people, places, and events (how many textbooks mention the Salem witch trials or Magna Carta?), and the use of direct quotes.

The book reads like a grandparent telling stories to a grandchild complete with answers to the child's questions and editorial comments. I guess grandparents are entitled to their opinions.

You won't cover as many years of American History in a set time with this series as you would with most textbooks, but you'll learn far more about the years you do cover.