New England: 1620--1750

February 1, 2015

Gr 5 Up-A collection of illustrated stories covering lesser known topics in American colonial history. The first in a series of comics based on underrepresented stories of the time period, the work uses primary and secondary sources, and is told in a way that makes the information accessible to students. All of the entries contain a brief introduction that assumes a basic amount of historical knowledge before presenting the story. Each vignette is short enough to keep the interest of most readers. All of the narratives are excellent, concise, and easy to follow. The illustrations, however, are a mixed bag. Some are sepia-toned, some black-and-white with splashes of other primary colors, some muddy, and others are colored brightly. None of the color schemes seem to be related to the narrative being told. The artwork ranges from realistic to almost clownish, and, as such, detracts from the general cohesion of the work-a weakness in the collection. Especially effective in this volume are the entries by Charles Fetherolf, E.J. Barnes, and Matt Rawson. VERDICT This may find a place in collections where graphic histories and other nonfiction comics are popular.-Suanne B. Roush, formerly at Osceola High School, Seminole, FL

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2015
Grades 8-11 In the first of three proposed anthologies, beautifully produced comics reveal the rich, often overlooked lives of Native Americans, women, and servants in colonial New England. Each of the two dozen selections is based on primary sources, and most pieces feature individuals whose names can be found fairly readily elsewhere. Unlike those other resources, however, the selections in this anthology take the vantage point of more marginalized groups, bringing attention to the people history has tended to view as mere props to stories featuring white male upper-class settlers. We meet Roger Williams in London, arguing for his free colony; Elizabeth Glover, running a printing business while skirting the law banning women from managing a business; George Burroughs, suspected of witchcraft; Eunice Williams, abducted and then adopted by a Mohawk tribe during Queen Anne's War; Native American and Europeans falling out over animal husbandry and farming; and many others. Though, as in any anthology, some stories are more successful than others, the unique presentation of these multifaceted perspectives is a valuable glimpse into history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)