This book was not very pleasing to the eye, as the illustrations were in black and white and wrote on old timing paper. I guess the author did that so we can see what it looked and felt like to read a book back in history. This was a poetry history book all about America's history. The poems use figurative language and word choice, the language goes toward that time period and also provides a short description of the time period. I actually caught my dad reading this book while I was away at work. He loves history and poetry. He says he wants to keep it. What a wonderful book for a history lesson and poetry.

An outstanding collection! ( )

This collection was underwhelming. The historical introductions to each section were interesting, but I would have liked to see more detailed introductions to the individual poems. As the poems were supposed to be placed within their historical contexts, dates of publication would have been useful. I think the theme of the chapters came at the cost of quality poem selections. Although the book provided biographical notes on the poets at the end of the book, I would have preferred to see biographical information mixed into each poem's introduction. Altogether, I think this book would fail to get students interested in either history or poetry. ( )

I love how everything I've ever learned in American history is in this poetry book. I think history teachers would benefit from reading these poems with the corresponding historical reference. Also, kids are already familiar with a lot of the poems in this book. I love the excerpts about the poems because they give the background to why and when the poem was written. ( )

This collection of poems spans American history from early colonization to present day. Subjects include colonial America, the struggle for independence, young America, from slavery to freedom, the expansion of a nation, wars, and changing America. Some classics such as Walt Whitman's "O Captain, My Captain", and Emma Lazarus' "The New Colossus" are included. There are numerous styles and poetic forms presented. Many of these selections are included in our districts' 8th grade literature anthology. I find this to be a very valuable resource to make cross-currcular connections between poetry and American history. Teaching these classics with the original language is challenging, but a good opportunity to analyze their underlying meanings and themes. These were poems written to record history as it happened. Each section is introduced with some background on the history of the era or subject. Each poem has an introduction about its content and author. The book also includes an afterword, biographical notes on the poets, and an index of titles and first lines. This is a must-have addition to any library, especially middle and high school.