George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen From Both Sides Book

There were once two enemies who were both named George-George Washington and George III. They were very much alike in some ways, and they were both beloved by their people. But wars alter perceptions of people and interpretations of events.

Because the winners tend to tell the tale, very few people in the United States have ever considered the British side of the American Revolution. In George vs. George, Roz Schanzer deftly shifts her perspective and includes primary source quotes from people on both sides of the Atlantic and both sides of the conflict. (There were loyalists in the Colonies and people who supported American independence in England.)

The book compares the two Georges, who turn out to be remarkably similar men; talks about what life was like for people in England and in the Colonies on the eve of the Revolution; explains how the government of England worked and also how the Colonial governments worked; and then begins the story of the Revolutionary War. After the Stamp Act, the tax on tea, the boycotts, the Boston Tea Party, and the Boston Massacre come the early battles. The book includes a wonderful description of what led up to the Battles of Lexington and Concord. From the British point of view, the famous British crossing of Boston Harbor and march to Concord immortalized in "Paul Revere's Ride" were preemptive strikes against a weapons stockpile amassed by dangerous American insurgents. Coverage of the war includes spreads about the composition of the British and Colonial forces as well as the Declaration of Independence. The book ends with the stories of what happened to the two Georges after the American Revolution.

As the main text and pictures tell themain story, small paintings of historical figures in the margins comment on the events in their own words, which are drawn from primary sources. This older picture book, perfect for 5th graders studying American history, also includes a note from the author, bibliography, source notes, a timeline, and an index.

Ellen R. Butts - Children's Literature

Is yet another children's book about the American Revolution necessary? Yes, when the author writes in lively, accessible prose. Yes, when she is an accomplished illustrator whose vibrant, folk-art-style paintings expand upon the text. And, yes, when the book's imaginative concept is successfully executed. "There are two sides to every story," the author says in the introduction. The two Georges—George Washington and King George III—are the book's focus although, as the author points out, many others were involved in the American Revolution. She begins by describing their personal similarities, including the fact that Washington fought alongside the British Army during the Seven Years War. People's opinions of each man changed as the two sides became more hostile "Who could imagine that the fabric binding America to Great Britain was about to unravel or that the two Georges were about to become bitter enemies? Who could guess that George III would be the last king of America, and that George Washington would one day become its first president?" Through a series of contrasts, the author tells the story of the heightening animosities that culminated in war. By using both sides' points-of-view, she provides an objective approach that encourages readers to think and perhaps, by extension, to understand that there are two sides to every confrontation. The uncaptioned illustrations become part of the text. Visually exciting, they contain interesting tidbits, as well as quotes. This vibrant overview of a complicated subject will encourage readers to want to learn more. 2004, National Geographic, Ages 8 to 12.