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The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation Paperback – October 14, 2008

by Jonathan Hennessey (Author), Aaron McConnell (Illustrator)

60 customer reviews

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Our leaders swear to uphold it, our military to defend it. It is the blueprint for the shape and function of government itself and what defines Americans as Americans. But how many of us truly know our Constitution?

The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation uses the art of illustrated storytelling to breathe life into our nation's cornerstone principles. Simply put, it is the most enjoyable and groundbreaking way to read the governing document of the United States. Spirited and visually witty, it roves article by article, amendment by amendment, to get at the meaning, background, and enduring relevance of the law of the land.

What revolutionary ideas made the Constitution's authors dare to cast off centuries of rule by kings and queens? Why do we have an electoral college rather than a popular vote for president and vice president? How did a document that once sanctioned slavery, denied voting rights to women, and turned a blind eye to state governments running roughshod over the liberties of minorities transform into a bulwark of protection for all?

The United States Constitution answers all of these questions. Sure to surprise, challenge, and provoke, it is hands down the most memorable introduction to America's founding document.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Take a look at the Constitution as you've never seen it before in The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation. Writer Jonathan Hennessey and illustrator Aaron McConnell describe the creation of Article I with vibrant, detailed graphics and captions that are surprisingly informative. Each image below links to a larger view of the page [PDF].

From Publishers Weekly

Writer Hennessey and artist McConnell undertake the imposing task of going through the entire U. S. Constitution, article by article, amendment by amendment, explaining their meaning and implications—in comics format. Avoiding the didactic, the book succeeds in being both consistently entertaining and illuminating. The illustrations are sometimes predictable: as the text describes King George III wrestling with the rebellion, the art shows him arm wrestling a colonist. More often, in the editorial cartoon tradition, McConnell's art ranges inventively through different styles and devices, from realistic depictions of historic personages to symbolic figures (the president as a man with the White House as his head) and even talking birds and parodic superheroes. Hennessey is particularly good at exploring the historical context in which various elements of the Constitution originated, such as the excesses of European monarchies. He also chronicles the dark side of constitutional history, notably how long it allowed slavery to remain legal. While the book depicts the framers of the Constitution as practical men, readers will also be impressed by the framers' vision in devising a system that has endured for two centuries, and it's a fine introduction to U.S. legal history. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product details

Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Hill and Wang; 1st edition (October 14, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0809094703
ISBN-13: 978-0809094707
Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.4 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 60 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #61 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Political Science > Constitutions
- #68 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Graphic Novels > Adaptations
- #110 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Graphic Novels > Educational & Nonfiction

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60 customer reviews

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and this was a really fun read. I forgot about many of the events ...

September 7, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I haven't read a graphic book in a while, and this was a really fun read. I forgot about many of the events that led up to the creation of the Constitution. Obviously the book doesn't go into thorough detail about everything, but it motivated me to learn more about certain aspects. Plus it's an overall good refresher to what it's about.

I was also interested to see how "objective" the book was since there have been posts about the book being political. I really don't think it's taking any side on a hot political topic. The book presents how the Supreme Court interpreted the Constitution when ruling on controversial cases, but it doesn't say anything about the Court ruling being correct or not. I guess if you're intentionally looking for reasons to criticize this book for being too liberal/conservative you can find it but you probably have bigger issues in life than just this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes graphic novels and has a passion for U.S. history. I wish I had a book like this when I was a kid.

Comment

Brings the Constitution to Life!

April 20, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I don't know why we didn't have this when I was studying the Constitution in school! I bought this book for a class in my MAT program. I found the pictures really helped bring the Constitution to life and would be great for explaining its contents to students who struggle as readers. This should be a staple in Civics and US History classrooms.

2 people found this helpful

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... takes a special sort of guts to attempt something like this. Who would have thought that a foundational ...

June 16, 2015

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

It takes a special sort of guts to attempt something like this. Who would have thought that a foundational legal document about the organization (and limits!) of government could be adapted to a graphic novel format? Yet, it works. The authors and illustrators have done a fine job of conveying both the letter and the spirit of the US constitution. Highly recommended!

3 people found this helpful

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Fantastic book for interdisciplinary study

November 19, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Recently our school has started to redesign its course offerings. As part of the redesign, we developed an interdisciplinary 8th grade course of study for English and social studies. This graphic novel allows for both historical and literary study. For example, page seven of the text shows an illustration of Civil War soldiers around the campfire reading a letter by Thomas Paine. The social studies teacher provided historical background about this moment in the war while I focused on an analysis of Thomas Paine's letter. The students loved learning about history and literature through the graphic novel medium. Parents loved the book because their children were interested in reading. Even some other schools in the area purchased the book after hearing we had such success with it. I highly recommend this text for educators.

2 people found this helpful

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Thoroughly enjoyable read, thoroughly informative

January 23, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I consider myself well-educated and I picked up this book more for the novelty than anything else - a comic book about the Constitution? Really? I was so pleasantly surprised I feel I can hardly praise it enough. The genre lends itself strikingly well to a description of detailed political history and process, as it enables a visual dimension that rounds out the description and thereby appeals to multiple learning modalities. Unlike other reviewers, I found the visual metaphors quite helpful. However, it is not just the visuals that foster deeper understanding; Hennessey's writing style is accessible while also thoroughly informative, and I found myself wishing he had been my high school history teacher.

Besides the obvious use of it in an educational setting (yes, parents, you should definitely buy this for your kids if they need help studying the Constitution!), it is the sort of book that anyone would enjoy while broadening his/her understanding of our government. I found clarity about details of the Constitution and its historical context that were, I have to admit, fuzzy in my mind. I was glad to have a refresher about a document I already thought I knew enough about.

I hope that Hennessey and McConnell will produce similar works for other documents; I would enjoy seeing more fruits of their talents!

4 people found this helpful

Comment

Mike Gilbertson

Great introduction and broad overview

February 9, 2011

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Jonathan Hennessey's graphic novel, "The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation" not only succinctly covers the key elements of the U.S. Constitution's text; it also provides historical examples of the implications arising out of that text. Also, it provides the historical context for why the Constitution's drafters included those provisions and excluded others. This text should be used in high school classes as an introduction not only the constitution but also constitutional history and law and society. It will inspire some and remind others about the importance of learning from U.S. history and framing the constitutional discussions of today and tomorrow.

3 people found this helpful

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April 17, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

A must read for everyone who is questioning our present state of political affairs!

2 people found this helpful

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Dennis N. Morgan

Illuminating no matter who you are

February 5, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This book has too many virtues to cover in one short review: it is an ingenious book idea, a beautifully illustrated work of graphic art, and a historical narrative written with dramatic energy and factual depth. But I want to focus on something that makes this book really special. As a lawyer well versed in constitutional law, I expected this book to refresh what I already knew in a visually exciting format. I was pleasantly surprised to learn how little I actually knew about the historical backdrop of the Constitution, and how incomplete was my appreciation for the meaning of our nation's founding document.

What the reader is made to feel in reading this book is a passion for the delicacy and, paradoxically, the resilience of a document that is nothing short of a political and historical miracle. Yet what is so impressive about this book is that it conveys this passion and insight in a form that 5th graders will find exciting and that lawyers will find educational. Probably very few works of historical depth and excellence can do that. I can't think of any.

I think every American should own a copy of this book, and that every grade school and high school should teach it to America's young students. It's really quite extraordinary.

3 people found this helpful

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