This little book, published the year I was born (probably more to celebrate the bicentennial, though), contains a surprising amount of information about the role that Black soldiers, sailors, and spies played during the American Revolution. I'm disturbed---but not surprised---by how some (not all) were given the chance to "win" their freedom by laying down their lives for their country, freedom that any white person had just by virtue of being born. And even those who were already free before they volunteered to fight had to fight after the war for the pensions and recognition due them by the country they had served. I feel compelled to learn as much of the full story of my country of birth as possible, but it is exhausting to be so disappointed so much of the time. ( )

973.3

Burke Davis carefully researched this book which includes the biography of Crispus Attucks, a freeman who died in the Boston Massacre, and that was the beginning of the Revolutionary War-- but there are several other men and women I had never learned about, so here they are! The writing is clear and chapters short and engaging, there are letters, artwork, and text to support the chapters, and an extensive Further Reading section. Not only will this be interesting reading for students who love history, but also a great research source. Wonderful for 4th grade and above.

Burke Davis carefully researched this book which includes the biography of Crispus Attucks, a freeman who died in the Boston Massacre, and that was the beginning of the Revolutionary War-- but there are several other men and women I had never learned about, so here they are! The writing is clear and chapters short and engaging, there are letters, artwork, and text to support the chapters, and an extensive Further Reading section. Not only will this be interesting reading for students who love history, but also a great research source. Wonderful for 4th grade and above.