Starred review from November 1, 2005
Gr 7 Up -This examination of America during Reconstruction covers Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the troubles of freed slaves, the expansion of the nation and the plight of Native Americans, the 15th Amendment, and the women's suffrage movement. While this is well-documented nonfiction, Bolden writes in the voice of a storyteller. The excellent graphics include archival photos, political cartoons, and primary resources. Lengthy captions explain each image and why it is included. Each chapter title is a quote, which personalizes the narrative but may confound report writers looking for specific information. For example, one chapter is titled, -Why Is This, Ma? - which refers to a question put to a black Memphis schoolteacher by one of her children over their poor treatment at a train depot; the chapter largely deals with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1875. Overall, this is a well-written and visually appealing title, but it's better for general-interest reading than for research." -Marianne Fitzgerald, Severna Park High School, MD"
Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
October 15, 2005
Gr. 8-11. Tackling the complex era of Reconstruction, Bolden presents a great deal of information about the history, politics, and society of the period. Constitutional amendments and social reform during Reconstruction brought legal rights and education to former slaves in the South, but the backlash against these changes led to unrest, violence, and, ultimately, a dark period of further oppression. Writing from an African American's perspective, Bolden handles the material in an evenhanded manner and backs up her assertions with facts, often quoting from primary and secondary sources. The many illustrations include reproductions of period photographs and prints accompanied by extensive, informative captions. A bibliography and source notes are appended. The occasional instance of imprecise or awkward phasing, such as "a bevy of legislation," "the litany of Reconstruction-era massacres," and "America's grandest celebration of herself the world had ever seen," detracts from the otherwise scholarly yet accessible tone of the text. A well-organized and well-reasoned account of Reconstruction, this book will serve as a rich resource for students researching the period, which has long been underrepresented in nonfiction for young people. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2006
Bolden covers a lot of territory--"black codes," impeachment, political maneuverings, states' autonomy, suffrage for freed slaves and women--in detailed, informative text enhanced by occasional humor and colloquialisms. The book is profusely illustrated with captioned black-and-white illustrations and includes an abundance of quotes and excerpts from legal documents, letters, speeches, and other primary sources. Bib., ind.
(Copyright 2006 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)