Forgotten founders Black patriots, women soldiers, and other thinkers and heroes who shaped early America

Aiming for a more inclusive roster of this country's Founding "Fathers," Lowe highlights key figures from the Revolutionary War era, including Native Americans, both free and enslaved Africans and African Americans, and women from myriad backgrounds. Included are relatively prominent figures like Phillis Wheatley and Abigail Adams as well as the less familiar: Culper Ring spy Anna Smith Strong (and Ann Bates, who spied for the British); Prince Estabrook, a formerly enslaved Black man who was wounded in the Battle of Lexington and Concord; and Mohawk leader Thayendanegea, better known as Joseph Brant. The author also commemorates the racially integrated First Rhode Island Regiment and adds historical overviews and time lines as well as a mini-survey of uniforms and an extensive list of print and online sources. Though Luong's painted portraits look like fashion models posing in period costume, and the language is occasionally insensitive, the cause is just, and readers will come away with a firmer understanding that, as the introduction has it, the story of this country's founding is "everyone's story."

Gr 2--5--Showcasing the diversity that has always been an integral part of America, this informative book introduces readers to some of the amazing men and women who helped shape a new nation. From the well-known Abigail Adams to the not-often-covered Crispus Attucks, the patriots who comprised America's early population including enslaved people, indentured servants, women, and Indigenous people. The introduction takes on the problem of historical contradictions and asks readers to consider the gaps between the ideals of a young country and the reality. This informative introduction also includes a condensed history of colonial America's involvement in the Revolutionary War and a time line of slavery in America, setting the tone for a continued investigation into the featured brave and industrious individuals. Each of the historical figures receives a spread that details the date and place of their birth and death, ethnicity, gender, unique background, and the contributions they made. Sidebars include fun facts and "Think Deeper" questions that challenge readers to contemplate and problem-solve historical situations. Examples of primary source documents are displayed along with Luong's engaging character portraits. The author's frequent explanatory footnotes add to the conversational tone of the text which contains the vocabulary, content, and length appropriate for the intended grade level. The absence of an index is inconsequential, as a detailed table of contents serves as a guide to the book. VERDICT This book will delight visual learners, history lovers, and trivia enthusiasts. It would also validate the diversity of the United States's heroes, encourage critical thinking, and inspire further research. A solid addition to any library or classroom.--Lynne Stover