Cindy Downes

Mar. 15, 2006 - Bootmaker to the Nation - Review

A few days ago, I received a 721 page book called, "Bootmaker to the Nation" by Dr. John Slade, to review. My first thought when looking at the enormous tome, was, "Fat chance I'll get around to reading this." I dropped it on my coffee table and forgot about it. Later that evening, I picked it up and started ruffling through, wondering who I could give it to to review for me! However, having nothing pressing to do at the moment, I began reading the first chapter. I was immediately hooked!

The book is historical fiction set at the time of the American Revolution, 1763 to 1783. The story is told from the point of view of a London boy named Benjamin and an American girl named Genevieve. Dr. Slade begins the story in London where Benjamin, an 18-year old cobbler's son, is kidnapped and taken aboard the Lively, a British frigate, to be pressed into His Majesty's navy. During the trip over he is forced to become a topman where he must climb to the top of the ship's mast to furl and set the sail. This whole section kept me biting my nails! After he lands, he is then forced to learn to become a soldier for the Redcoats. His only goal, however, is to escape and get back to London.

The story then takes us from Benjamin's story to Genevieve's story. I don't want to say much more about the plot because that's what kept me hooked! And while I was hooked, I learned about each of the battles of the Revolution, the weapons that were used, the people involved, and why we fought the war. This was much better than a history textbook!

Dr. Slade's goal in writing the book is to teach us to "love American history, understand our nation's first war, meet our Founding Fathers as people, not as wooden heroes, and look to the future with an educated eye." He definitely fulfills this goal.

I highly recommend this for 9th graders and up. It's available at local bookstores.

Mar. 15, 2006 - Historical fiction

Posted by scottsdomesticangel

I LOVE books like this one. I am also an author of sorts and some have even suggested I pick an era I really like and write a book....maybe I will. Someday. I've read the interview with you in TOS and was interested in the empty nest syndrome....we THOUGHT we would have an empty nest, but God had other plans....and now we are home schooling a 10 y/o with dyslexia and other learning difficulties. But God knows best and we are loving every minute of it....although sometimes we wonder what we would be doing IF....
It is good to find another 'mature' woman on homeschoolblogger. Stop by my blog sometime.

Denise

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