Sleuthing the Alamo: Davy Crockett's Last Stand and Other Mysteries of the Texas Revolution ( New Narratives in American History Series) Book

Like many public school children in Texas, I had to take a Texas history class at some time.
7th grade.
Originally, I was part of Mrs. W____'s 7th period history. But within days of this, I had my schedule switched - and I found myself in 1st period Texas History with Band teacher Mr S. The switch in class peers was something else - I went from decent students to ...well, this would be the start of many of what I call "misfit" classes. Ones where the peers are a hodge-podge. In my particular class, there were two or three students who were smart, and few that were decent, and one that, rumor had it, drove himself to school every day. In 7th grade. (He always had a pack of cigs in his leather coat pocket).
Now, I had a smattering of education on Texas history - mostly independent learning from reading more than a few Davy Crockett and Sam Houston biographies for kids. (I was a HUGE Davy Crockett fan. And Harry Houdini). But, other than having to build a fort in 3rd grade (Thank you, Lincoln Logs. Only project in the whole grade that was 100% Dad;s help free. And one that was built in front of my teachers).
But the class was easy at first - This is Texas. IT is big. Here are the rivers. The major cities...
At the end of the first 6 weeks, I had a surprise - I got a perfect grade. 100% Mr S even sent a note home to my parents, saying in all the years he had been teaching, I was the first to get a perfect grade for the 6 weeks.
During the Open House, Mr S told Mom "Ross is the first student who absorbs this faster than I can teach it. I use his paper as a key, and I know he is getting it, because he helps other students learn too".
Mom: "Well, he didnt get it from me, being from Canada"

Later on that year, I got a surprise - I was picked to be part of the Texas History team. I was one of a few students who were picked who weren't part of the the Talent and Gifted / Honors class. Mr. S was escalated about it - HIS student was part of this team. He sent me home with a Note to my parents, praising my hard work and the honor that it was to be part of this. "I hope that Ross is as proud of this as I am".
Problem was - I was in the Misfit class. Which meant I got NO notices of team meetings or practices or anything else. Mrs S_____n, the team's sponsor, got very upset by this. "If you cant take this serious, I will remove you from this team"
"Mrs S_____N - I dont know when practice is. No one tells me"
"I tell people to tell you. Not their fault you can make it"
(I would learn, later, no one wanted to tell me. I was a "challenge" to them, in their eyes. Someone who, through hard work and tutoring and skills training, went from the lowest of the low to being as smart- or smarter- than many of them).

Well, one weekend, in the Spring, we all loaded up in a bus one saturday morning and drove 90 minutes to Denton, to take part of in the state wide Texas History contest. It was a 2 part test - morning was multiple choice and afternoon was essay. The drive there was memorable - no one on my team wanted to sit or quiz me, so I sat with my friends in the 8th grade American History team And I read my book - one my parents gave me for Easter a few weeks before- which was a Quiz on Texas history and geography.
Now, the tests were easy - questions I knew like the back of my hand. And the essays werent hard either - I basically stated the stuff Mr. S had talked about in class.

That afternoon, all over us were then taken to a massive auditorium, for the awards. We were seated by school and by team - which meant I had to sit beside people who didnt like me, but in front of one of my best friends in 8th grade. And then they started to announce the names of the winner and honorable mention.
"Nicholas Junior High. Philip M_____"
{no surprise there - in the top 2 smartest kids in the grade}
"Chad S____"
{3rd smartest kid}
"Joseph T____"
{Smartest kid in the class}
"Ross Vincent"
{Wait- what?!?! hold on.... that's me!!!}

Out of a team of 30 students, 4 of us were picked as Honorable Mentions. And I was one of the 4. This threw me.. as well as many of the people on the team. {As I got up to accept my certificate, a couple of my "peers" said "Cheater". #HatersGottaHate}
As I sat down, I was higher than the highest of Texas derricks. I was in the group of the SMARTEST KIDS IN MY GRADE!!

When I got on the bus, I had to pass Mrs S_____n. She had a look of shock and confusion. "Well, congratulations, Ross. Good job"
"Thanks. Not bad for the kid who didnt know about practice and you wanted to throw off the team" #INYOURFACE
As the bus pulled into the parking lot of our school, to drop us off, there was Mom and Mr S____, talking. He said he was there to "organize the band room". Nope, he was there to welcome HIS Texas History Team student back. Except now, he had an HONORABLE MENTIONED TEXAS HISTORY STUDENT in his class. I talked about the test - 'It was everything you taught in class" - and the essay - "Gold, God, and Land. That is what easiest to remember. Like you said in class". And Mom was "Who else won?" and was shocked to learn who the other 3 were. We ended up calling my grandparents in Canada that night (something we never did on a Saturday) and I told them about the test and winning and everything.
Grandmother: "So all that singing about Davy Crockett helped?"
Me: "Well, I was told stop humming it during the test"

When Monday rolled around, they announced my name, with the others, over the loudspeaker for the school, about going and bringing back honorable mention. Abd Mr. S____ spend the rest of the day sending me letters of congrats / way to go / good things are happening in NJH notes during every one of my class periods. (Little praise goes a long way - especially with all the other teachers).
--------------------
"Ross - why are you sharing this?"
Well, I figure since this book is less about the HISTORY of the Alamo and Texas Revolution and more an essay collection that starts with the author's earliest days of learning about Texas history and then talks about his academic research and papers over the years, why not start my review with the same.


Now, every year for the past 7 years, during the period between the start of the Siege of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto, I spend it reading a book about Texas history. Sometimes, it is about the battle of the Alamo; sometimes, it is a biography of one of the founding fathers of the Texas Revolution. This year, it was this book. Ironically,I almost didnt read this book - picked it up, to sent to my cousin in Montreal, who has taken an interest in Texas. However, while skimming it, I saw notes and highlighted sections. Yeah, keeping it here. I will read it instead.
I made the right and wrong decision.
This isnt a book about the History of the Texas Revolution. It is a college level "additional readings" you would find on a syllabus and which would cost $35 to buy and read for a class where maybe ONE question Might find its way on the final from this book. (I'm glad I paid $1 for mine. #ClearanceBooks).
I did learn some things - some academic/ scholar studies about the Alamo battle (did Crockett Surrender? Was Houston a Racist? Was Santa Anna a dick?) But mostly, it was stuff I already had read in other books over the years.

Would I recommend it? Well, if you were taking Texas History in college.
But honestly, there are some better books for the casual reader looking to learn more about Texas and the war for independence.