The Real Story Behind the Thirteen Colonies

November 1, 2019

Gr 4-7-Using a conversational, skeptical tone, authors challenge readers to rethink the veracity of U.S. history. Within a chronological framework, each author presents and dispels information that readers may have heard or read (e.g., the reaction of the Indigenous populations to explorers and colonists). Titles are organized well, and the images selected support the texts. The words Native and Indigenous are not capitalized consistently. Ironically, no source notes, citations, or recommended reading is provided in any title, despite quotes, statistics, and other facts being presented. Authors inconsistently provide dates for quoted items. A link to Rosen's site that has resources is listed for readers to access. VERDICT In a series so focused, the authors missed the mark by neglecting to cite sources in the text or in a bibliography.

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2019
Grades 4-6 The enticing premise of The Real Story: Debunking History series (6 titles) is that what you know about the past may well be wrong. Focusing on different eras, events, people, and places, each book explores a series of topics. The attractive layout features text on every left-hand page, facing a vintage illustration or two, reproduced in color. 13 Colonies includes a broad array of topics, from the guests and menu at the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving feast to the presence of slavery in the colonies. The texts are quite readable, but offer little evidence supporting the writers' views. In a series called The Real Story, it's ironic that the books do not provide sources notes, credentials for the writers, or any mention of review by subject experts. Still, the books have some value in showing that history is constantly being rewritten as new information turns up and old views are reevaluated.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)