American History

[Marsha]

Which would you use as a read alone for a 12 year old?

This Country of Ours

Rainbow book of American History or

America: A History for Peter, Vols. 1-3 by Gerald W. Johnson?

[Chloe]

next year when she is 11. I don't know anything about the other books though.

[Spy Car]

I previewed "This Country of Ours" several years ago and was quite put off by the heinous prejudices expressed by the author towards Mormons, African-Americans, and Native Americans. I cringed at the negative depictions of these groups.

And at Marshall's assertions that while slavery had it's bad sides that most enslaved blacks were happy in their bondage.

This book belongs in the trash as far as I'm concerned. It is a very offensive text.

Bill

[Linda in Oregon]

This book belongs in the trash as far as I'm concerned. It is a very offensive text.

Bill


Wow, Bill. I had no idea that this so highly recommended book was so offensive. Is there another book you would choose instead or would you just use a variety of books?

[klmama]

We read This Country of Ours aloud together, and my dc loved it. We all learned a great deal. We discussed the terms that are no longer considered appropriate, and they seemed to understand just fine. It did not lead them to become prejudiced, but it did help them to understand better how different people in different times use different words. If you want to preview it yourself to see the text, it's free online at http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=marshall&book=country&story=_contents

As for The Rainbow Book of American History - I just found it at a library sale, but I haven't read the whole thing. The pictures are a nice addition, if she likes that, but it does have the feel of a book for younger kids because of that. It also is much shorter, about half the length and number of chapters, so I suspect it goes into much less detail. I think it would be better for a review than for a full year's work for a child of 12.

I've never heard of the third option.

HTH!

[Spy Car]

Wow, Bill. I had no idea that this so highly recommended book was so offensive. Is there another book you would choose instead or would you just use a variety of books?


I think Kidlovingmama's suggestion about pre-reading this text on-line is a great one.

Look for chapters on the Civil War, Slavery, Native Americans and the Mormons. Then you can decide your own tolerance for the author's bigoted commentary. For me, it is way beyond the pale.

Others seem to find this work sparks an opportunity to discuss the anachronistic and hateful prejudice of an earlier age.

Probably best you judge for yourself.

All the best,

Bill

[sagira]

This is why we're using This Country of Ours as supplemental reading, not as our spine. Ds will be in 3rd or 4th grade, and we will be using Jennifer Armstrong's The American Story, which I really, really like.

[training5]

I am having mine read through A History of US by Joy Hakim.
Good to know about that book, Bill. Being a Mormon, I would find it offensive.

[Dee in MI]

America: A History for Peter, Vols. 1-3 by Gerald W. Johnson?

I've read these. I love the writing. The author was a journalist. He's politically center-left in the early sixties. He was a big fan of Wilson and Roosevelt. In my opinion, the first two books are very good, and I've recommended them many times. The third book is worth reading, but he was too close the the history he was writing. I wouldn't use it as a sole source.

[Rhonda in TX]

He really enjoys it. I am not familiar with the other books.