Everything You Need to Ace American History in One Big Fat Notebook: The Complete Middle School Study Guide

Everything You Need...in One Big Fat Notebook

by Lily Rothman

It’s the revolutionary American history study guide just for middle school students from the brains behind Brain Quest.
    
Everything You Need to Ace American History . . . covers Native Americans to the war in Iraq. There are units on Colonial America; the Revolutionary War and the founding of a new nation; Jefferson and the expansion west; the Civil War and Reconstruction; and all of the notable events of the 20th century—World Wars, the Depression, the Civil Rights movement, and much more.

The BIG FAT NOTEBOOK™ series is built on a simple and irresistible conceit—borrowing the notes from the smartest kid in class. There are five books in all, and each is the only book you need for each main subject taught in middle school: Math, Science, American History, English Language Arts, and World History. Inside the reader will find every subject’s key concepts, easily digested and summarized: Critical ideas highlighted in neon colors. Definitions explained. Doodles that illuminate tricky concepts in marker. Mnemonics for memorable shortcuts. And quizzes to recap it all.

The BIG FAT NOTEBOOKS meet Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and state history standards, and are vetted by National and State Teacher of the Year Award–winning teachers. They make learning fun, and are the perfect next step for every kid who grew up on Brain Quest.

 

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Education, Textbooks, School, Reference

528 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2016

Reviews

[Timothy McNeil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though there are a few glaring errors (such as the assertion that Napoleon was out of power by 1814, something that would have rendered Waterloo unnecessary) and some soft-peddling of facts (especially in the last chapter), this book does a better than expected job of presenting a balanced view of US history. While no substitute to a well-written text book (or for books on the individual subjects), it does serve as a good overview and review.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first glance, the book did not look the most slightly appealing. It was as if I was about to read a minature textbook. Yet, it was not until I began to dig into the book, is when I realized it was not at all what I expected. It gave the information of a textbook, yet, made it more fun to read. It did so by including many drawings, comics, and maps to help you understand the information better. Best of all, the book had short check-ups (mini quizzes) at the end of each chapter to make sure you were not sidetracked when reading. It would also tell you where to find information to the questions you did not get right. This book truly altered my perspective on American History by providing in-depth details and how the events related to past history, therefore, I would most definitely give it five stars.

If I had to give this book a theme, it would be to learn from your past. The idea is very basic, yet, it was greatly emphasized by the book. The book would compare events from previous chapters, within the book, to show the mistakes people made and how to avoid them in the future.

[Cas H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love history and I especially love easy to read reference books. I really appreciate the details and the information found in this book. American History is taught slightly different no matter where you live. Some states teach some things while other states teach others. This might be the middle school study guide and it may have a great many things for American History however, based on the State that you are in, they may pay attention to some details more than others.
Overall it is a great book.
I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

[Bookworm William Na · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the story because the story only points out the main events of American history. I also liked how the author used the figurative language of the story.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great refresher!

[Bran Ornido · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know more about America, this is the right book for you.

[Amanda Brogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get classroom resource to use as both a preview and review of material. Using it in 7th and 8th grade.

[French-B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to learn about U.S. history and understand it with simple words.

[Brice · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book, from Barnes and Noble, for my two 11-year-old daughters. I did so in order to encourage their interest in world history as they entered middle school. What a mistake. This book's concept and organization is outstanding and age-appropriate IMO. However, opinion, is what comprises most of this book. Each time-period or Presidential summary is written with not so subtle bias to the average educated, adult reader. Phrases like "he intended, thought or meant" are used for presidents like Regan but accomplished and achieved are used when describing Jimmy Carter. The notes do not summarize the major competing theories for economics, social injustices, militarization, foreign policy or reforms of each time-period. There's a clear, Democratic and progressive tilt to the entire book. I was seriously shocked and disappointed. I attended and earned degrees from three separate Universities. Each of which was very different from one another. Politically, I have voted for both major parties and independents. I value equality, I have been a stay-at home dad, practiced medicine, hold two graduate degrees, played college football, hunt, fish, have rescued 5 animals (which are currently members of our home). I spent months living in Central America (providing medical care and learning Spanish) and have traveled to many parts of the world. My best friend in life is from Guatemala, my study partner and close friend in medical school is gay. My x-wife is Italian and Catholic (I'm neither). My current wife and I have three wonderful girls and have taught them that equality is important an inherent right. We've taught them to assess each person on the basis of their individual qualities, not appearance, race, preference or deference of religion. We've insisted that they can apply themselves to become whatever they choose to in life. So, I'm not a racist, bigot, homophobe or any other "ism". That said, this book is offensive. A cliff-note version of bias which is rolled out as essential and basic fact. So factual (it infers), that many arguable "facts" are all that's presented. What's scarier is that this information will help you ACE history in middle school; so goes the claim. If true, it's no wonder so many of our current university students cannot handle debate or differing opinion. I just tossed this book in my kitchen trash. How very disappointing. If I wanted to indoctrinate a child, hence robbing them of understanding different and competing historical concepts (which would better enable them to have informed opinions) then this book would be a 5 star.

[Naomi Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand: I liked the formatting, I thought the author did their best to stay as unbiased as possible. But. I don't know. At the end I felt like there were important facts missing and maybe a slightly skewed focus, but I don't know how to explain it in words. I do feel like I should have liked it more than I did and it frustrates me that I can't figure out what's bothering me about it. It was useful though. I'm teaching America History to some highschoolers and it was good to have a broad overview to review and such.

[Chaplain2 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing.

It holds some facts but too much opinion disguised as fact.

Not recommended for the late-elementary and junior-high readers it supposedly targets.

Instead, I would highly recommend The American Patriots Almanac, by Dr. Bill Bennett.

[SerialReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captivating graphic and essential concepts make studying easy and enjoyable.
Perfect for middle schoolers.

*This book was kindly sent to me via NetGalley by Workman Publishing Company*

[MarkusQ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and a good overview, with the same caveat as the series's World History: if you're going to use this, be sure to prime the kids to use their critical reading skills and be on the lookout for editing bloopers, e.g. (pg 172):

On December 15, 1814, Federalists met at the HARTFORD CONVENTION to show opposition to the war. Little did they know that on December 24, 1814, the British and Americans had signed the TREATY OF GHENT in Belgium.

Even today many people blunder through ignorance of events that happened on the other side of the planet and over a week in the future.

While these aren't quite as common as in World History (maybe one every 50 pages or so) I've noticed an interesting pattern: the majority of the bloopers in both books involve the ordering of events in time. It's as if the books were fact-checked and grammar-checked by different people, and there was no one to catch errors of the form "most dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago, and then the Earth was formed four and a half billion years ago" -- the individual facts are correct, the grammar is correct, but the impression created by their apposition is wonky.

[Joel Pae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the fact that this book was on my shelf for probably more than 4 years, I had never considered to read it up to this point, especially with how I wasn’t interested as much in American History. However, I think that this book is one of the best nonfiction books that I’ve read, since it is in a compelling format and engages the reader with lots of diagrams and boxes that explain key concepts. Reading this book helped me understand the basics of American history including the Manhattan Project, the Battle of Bull Run, and amendments made to the Constitution in order they happened. I liked how the book was divided into sections, which clearly shows the different time periods in U.S. History and how they influenced our current society. I think reading this book provides a fundamental comprehension and a strong basis for reading other advanced books such as the History book from DK, which could be at a potentially higher and more difficult level. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read nonfiction that isn’t boring, or wants to start learning about the history of the United States. Overall, I would rate this book 4 stars out of 5.

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I’m an adult who read this American history study guide made for middle schoolers. The kid in me was drawn to the colors and design and the adult in me doesn’t mind a history refresher. I thought this was an okay read. There were lots of tidbits that I didn’t know or forgot about. There are good trivia questions like which President is the only one to have won all electoral votes, what does the S in Harry S. Truman stand for, and when was the only time in US history that a sitting president personally commanded an army. However, the organization of material confused me sometimes as it wasn’t completely chronological and sometimes they needed to expand more on topics. I don’t think an actual middle schooler would read this front to cover as it’s pretty lengthy and dull, but I can see them referencing it.

[米占进化史 小 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book on US history I’ve ever read. Under the sun, there’s nothing new. By reading and studying history, it helps me to understand better why and what’s really going on around the world. Some impressive events: Roosevelt helped Panama to independent and then get the 99 full control lease of the Panama Canal, and Carter, believing in equal rights returned it by 1999. How US used high tariffs to induced the Hawaii rebellion. Hamilton and his death another intrigue for me. To study US it’s also to study how to excel and surpass your precedence in a much shorter time frame. It couldn’t work without the structure/ system of the government machine.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad to see I’m not the only adult age reader picking this one up! I thought this was a great cliff notes book for a US History refresher. There is a big focus on the politics of each event that guided the history of America, but written for middle grade readers so obviously the writers didn’t deep dive into the gray areas of each event or tragedy or war etc. I marked the things that interested me that I want to research further.

Definitely recommend this for anyone who wants a refresh of the stuff they learned in grade school!

[Aprilleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really happy to see the first two chapters cover the arrival of nomadic people and the various Native American groups in the Americas. Too many U.S. History books start with Christopher Columbus or the English. There’s pretty decent coverage of all the major conflicts and developments. The section on current events is necessarily light, but it does briefly mention many landmark events. It won’t replace a decent textbook, but given the nature of the subject, it’s a great way to corral the major points, or as an aid to review before a test.

[Oguzhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is a good detailed book. I took a point off because the book is a bit biased. for example; it is written the numbers of USA casualties, but it isn't written for Vietnam casualties which are around 3 million but it is acceptable cause of the book directed young Americans who want to learn the history of USA.

I recommend this for beginners. I'll read after this 1776 and Howard Zinn's book about USA history.

[Dan Castrigano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really wonderfully done. I was shocked at how good it was. Concise, straightforward, with just a touch of historical analysis. Excellent definitions, color-coding (especially historical figures) was spot-on, mnemonics were few and far between. It reminded me of teaching 5th grade at LCA...especially the colonization of America by the Europeans. And all the Johns - White, Rolfe, Smith, Winthrop, Adams, Jay, Hancock, Quincy Adams, Hay, F. Kennedy, and a million others.

[Henry Wheeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of US history, the book tries to loop in the oppressed voices in our history but fails at giving them the voice they deserve. It is a great overview to be built off from or to guide a teacher through the main points. Tends to focus on minutia of an event instead of the causes and outcomes of it. Would be significantly better if combined with “Stamped” or another book that focuses on the history of oppression in the US.

[Aakarsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goes more in dept on American history, looks like it talks about a lot but it's pretty simple stuff. 10/10 for anyone wanting more detail about the US stuff or anyone failing US history class because they didn't put enough detail in their essays since they relied on the world history book and their teacher's study guide. Probably not the latter this time but maybe. :)

[Chia-Yueh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, enlightening and great-for-beginner read for an immigrant. I knew little about western expansion, Mexican-American war, Spanish-American war, etc. before reading this book. It covers almost every president's major achievements and controversial policies. Those who have particular interest in some presidents can dive deeper to read their biographies.

[Aaliyah Corley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way the book presented some stuff was hard to remember but the further I got into the book the more interesting it got. I liked the way the pictures where drawn but I feel like they glossed over some stuff. the test your knowledge at the end of the chapters is a good way to rap up the chapters. though they skipped some stuff it is a great learning book.

[Lia P · Rating 5 out of 5]

The smart kid gives you their notebook, I love it
This book is advertised for middle schoolers, I would suggest to not listen to that advertisement. I been able to use this book for college and work as well if needed be. It’s helpful that you can work out different assignments. You just got to make sure to know the name of the topics you are doing.

[Rubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite an educational book. Love the format and learned a bit, but it was a bit boring. I read their Everything You Need to Ace World History and I loved it! Wish I could say the same for this but it had more dates and names than history telling and I just wish it had told history more interestingly, like the World History Big Fat Notebook 🤷‍♀️

[Ciara Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great recap of history. I also felt like I understood things better and I don’t know if it’s because I’m older and I understand things more or if it’s because of the author and how they explained it versus how my teacher. I felt it was honest, but I still had more questions that probably will never be answers. I highly recommend for anyone in school.

[Elle Markov · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would totally recommend this as a supplemental for kids learning American history in school. After reading this book and seeing the way they laid it all out, I was wishing I’d had this when I was going through this back in grade school.

Rating 5 out of 5
Read@Book

Netgalley ARC

[Billybobjoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book 3 days before my AP Exam for US History and this book helped me a lot on remembering all the little details that I need to know for the exam itself and for the essay. I would really recommend this book to anyone who needs a quick review of the US History subject.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was going to get a 4 star from me, until the last 50 pages. For a book published in 2016, it doesn't talk a lot about anything after 1990's, which is a huge part of recent history. I do appreciate the overview of history, and it's attempt to be non-partisan.