Informative and a good subject but I cannot give this book a higher rating because of the sloppy copy editing. Errors abound. ( )

Genre: Informational

Review: The author of this story creates an informational text that tells the story of the Arlington Cemetery and how it came to be. All of the events that are explained in this text are true, and it includes a true timeline in the back of the book that shows each event.

Setting: The main setting that the author uses in this text is Arlington. This is because that is where and what the story is talking about. The area that was once a place for families to grow is now a place where families can go to remember.

Media: (Unsure) Watercolor, gouache, and acrylics ( )

Arlington: The story of our nation’s cemetery by Chris Demarest

The Text: Chris Demarest follows the history of Arlington from the construction of Arlington House in 1802 to the rules and regulations that govern it as Arlington Cemetery today. Arlington House was built by George Washington Parke Custis and filled with paintings and memorabilia of George Washington. In 1831, his daughter Mary married Robert E. Lee and the two lived in Arlington House until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, when Lee resigned from the army and went to lead the Southern troops. In 1864, Arlington was turned into a military cemetery for Northern soldiers. Over the years, soldiers from the Revolutionary war, Spanish-American conflict, World War I, and every other war were buried in Arlington. Demarest explains some of the special monuments and people in Arlington, including the Tomb of the Unknowns and presidents Kennedy and Taft. Throughout the timeline of the history of Arlington, Demarest includes information on the rituals and ceremonies associated with Arlington and the design and maintenance of the grounds.

The Illustrations: Demarest is an official artist for the Coast Guard and his paintings capture the cemetery during many historical periods. One of the most interesting things about the illustrations are the carefully researched views of Arlington from a variety of angles. Demarest also includes some interesting notes, like an oak tree that begins as a sapling in the first illustration and continues to grow throughout the history of the cemetery, finally being surrounded by new saplings.

The Extras: A few black and white photos, timeline, partial list of memorials, and a brief section on Freedman’s Village, where slaves from the Arlington estate and some freed slaves from the south lived for many years during and after the Civil War. An author’s note discusses the significance of Arlington Cemetery and the illustrations. Acknowledgements, recommended reading, and websites are also included.

Verdict: This title will not have a wide audience, but fills a niche, especially if you have military families in your community. It’s also a useful title for people planning to visit Arlington. Recommended for purchase.

ISBN: 1596435178; Published October 2011 by Flash Point; Borrowed from the library; Added to my library's wishlist