Let It Begin Here!: April 19, 1775: The Day the American Revolution Began

Actual Times

by Don Brown

ONE DAY THAT CHANGED A NATION
A nonfiction master brings the start of the American Revolution to life. A 26-year-old King George II found himself in financial turmoil after crushing the French, Austrians, and Spanish in battle. Luckily money was no object since he could easily get it back by raising taxes on his American colonies...but what King George didn't realize was the colonies were beginning to have a mind of their own and had started to set their sights on freedom. The cast of characters includes those we know--the famous silversmith, turned messenger, Paul Revere--and many we haven't heard of like "Flinty Whittemore," a 78-year-old who fought off the British with a musket, two pistols, a sword, was bayoneted 14 times and still lived another 18 years to brag about it. Detailed, yet accessible, Don Brown's award winning nonfiction style brilliantly comes to life in this fascinating account of the start of the American Revolution.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, History, War, Childrens, American History, American Revolution

64 pages, Hardcover

First published December 9, 2008

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Don Brown is the award-winning author and illustrator of many picture book biographies. He has been widely praised for his resonant storytelling and his delicate watercolor paintings that evoke the excitement, humor, pain, and joy of lives lived with passion. School Library Journal has called him "a current pacesetter who has put the finishing touches on the standards for storyographies." He lives in New York with his family.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's author and artist Don Brown, whose many works of non-fiction for younger readers include biographies such as Uncommon Traveler: Mary Kingsley in Africa and histories like Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans , turns in this slender volume to the subject of the American Revolution. Specifically, to the battles of Lexington and Concord, which heralded the beginning of that conflict. After setting the scene with some background, Brown describes the British march from Boston, the initial "shot heard round the world," and the resulting fighting on that April day in 1775. He describes a number of well-known and more obscure incidents, and concludes with a discussion of what happened to some of the people mentioned in the text. A bibliography is included at the rear...

Let It Begin Here!: April 19, 1775: The Day the American Revolution Began is the second book from Brown's Actual Times series that I have read, following upon his America Is Under Attack: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell . This series is meant to highlight momentous days in history, days which altered the course of human events, and changed the world. April 19, 1775 is certainly one such day, and Brown captures the excitement and chaos that unfolded as the British met with the first real armed resistance in their conflict with the American colonists. Some of the stories here were unknown to me - the surrender of a group of Redcoats to the elderly Mother Batherick, the part played by seventy-eight-year-old Samuel Whittemore, who survived habing half his face shot off and being bayoneted fourteen times - while others, such as the ride of Paul Revere, were already familiar. On the whole I enjoyed the book, and think it would make an excellent addition to a study unit on the American Revolution. I would recommend it for that purpose, as well as for the young reader interested in history. For my part, I intend to read more in the Actual Times series.

[Rykki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a pretty comprehensive view of the first battles of the American Revolution. The information includes several quotes from people who were actually there, which gives it a unique touch in comparison to some of the other stories my daughter and I have shared.

What I liked most about this book was the attention to detail that went far beyond the standard Lexington and Concord story. It covered the entire trip all the way back to the British soldiers returning to safety. It covers many details that are often glossed over, like some of the actual battles on the soldier's march home, and the use of cannon balls and a ship's cannons to secure the troops safety. It gives the feeling that these weren't just a group of "bad guys" but real people who were just as worried for their own lives as the militia men at Lexington Green. It also does a wonderful job of displaying how the tables are turned from the soldiers being confident and the militia men being frightened to the exact reverse situation. It also captures some of the more horrifying moments of the battles.

For any child that is interested in the events of Lexington and Concord, I highly recommend this book, but I recommend this as it was sent to my daughter, paired with Let It Begin Here!: Lexington and Concord: First Battles of the American Revolution, which covers some details that this book does not. It creates interesting discussion material once you've read through both books and try and pick out the differences in the stories.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic bit of American History nicely presented. The art is pretty good as is the writing. And yet without an afterword and reference material, it isn't really up for use as anything but a casual read. So not cutesy but not fact-oriented enough - it tried to slice it down the middle. And came out fine. 3.5 of 5

[Sunday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly easy to read narrative that might lend itself to being read aloud for students or offered to partners to read.

Involves the many skirmishes at different points that made up the battle. The reader has to make sense of this for themselves. WISH there'd been a map & timeline of some sort to help readers track what was going on.

CAUTION FOR STRIVING READERS - There are numerous people named in the book - Colonel X, Captain X, General X and so forth. Frequently, I found myself looking back a few pages to remember which side a person was on. Some readers might feel a similar confusion. Also - Brown refers to "regulars" (common term of colonists in that period for British soldiers) and the "militia" and "Yankees" for the colonists; while there are enough text clues to help students make sense of these terms, might be helpful to front load these terms with students. If you're reading this aloud, you might briefly check in with students, reminding them who is who.

MAIN IDEAS - Brown reveals how both sides were strategic and how many times there was confusion--great main ideas for students to consider. (Similar themes are revealed in "For Liberty: The Story of the Boston Massacre" by Timothy Decker and "Let it Begin: First Battles of the American Revolution" by Fradin.) Who made the first shot is still unclear to this day. Brown includes a great two page layout dedicated to this idea.

The bibliography is weak (some may be more appropriate for adults). No primary sources. No sources listed for quotes.

PARTNER THIS WITH "Let It Begin Here! Lexington & Concord First Battles of the American Revoltion" (Fradin, 2005)--There are some significant SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES in how Brown and Fradin frame several parts of the book. For example, Brown implies that while the British forces did set fire to some things in Concord, a court house was accidentally set on fire (from burning embers) and describes redcoats and colonists working together to douse it. Meanwhile the militiamen on the edge of town saw the fires, thought the worst, and were inspired to charge the redcoats. Fradin doesn't mention the collaboration between the redcoats and colonists. This detail by Brown really adds to the complexity of this situation. While both authors describe the same topic, it's choices like this - about what to include and not include - on the part of both authors that lead the reader to draw differing conclusions. Noticing these differences could make for meatier conversations and responses from students. (Also - Fradin DOES INCLUDE a map for readers and a list of "Who's Who" which was a weakness in Brown's text; this could make for an interesting conversation with students about features that support readers.)

[Judy Desetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good choice if wanting to learn more about how the American Revolution got started. A nice portrayal of events of the first battle of the American Revolution.

[Mickey Bits · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Brown also makes graphic novels. This is more of an illustrated book but has that same sort of feeling in the art. This is aimed at young people. It gives an interesting glimpse into the famous battle that was the beginning of the American Revolution.

Could be used as one of a few sources for a kid doing a report or project about the American Revolution, or just to provide some colorful background and context. This would also be a fun book for teachers to read to a class.

[Bon Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fun. I learned how the British and Americans fought each other.

[Marissa Dunlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would definitely not read to younger kiddos! Has some graphic illustrations, but the history is rich!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

kids book on lexington and concord. good, but a little gory for kids.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great (short) introduction to the American Revolution and why/how it started.
3.5 stars

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ages: 6 - 10

Cleanliness: "Bl**dy" is used once as a swear word and twice to mean lots of blood. "For God's sake" is said. Illustrations show little bursts/sprays of blood coming out from men who were shot. One scene shows a man about to be killed with a hatchet - the story says that his skull was split open.

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

In one sitting I was able to read this one and the other on Lincoln's assassination. I liked this version of understanding why American needed independence from Britain as well as being curious about how Britain thought they could battle the rebels on their own turf?

I think I would have liked to have met Flinty Whittemore who had half his face shot away and was bayoneted fourteen times and lives to the age of ninety-six. Kudos to him and all the "rebels" who fought for independence.

[Roxanne Hsu Feldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The "first day" of the Revolutionary War is well documented with fast paced brief narrative and many effective full color (watercolors?) illustrations. This is in the same format as Don Brown's other book, All Stations Distress!" from the same series(?) but is slightly with less focus due to the scattered nature of the day's event. Still a solid history text for the beginning readers set.

[The Library Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Adequate but flat. Unexciting text and unexciting art.

[Robin Stansel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rare history book for children; many quotations, acknowledgment that history is full of unanswered questions, focus on several individuals.

[Madissen · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was good because it taught a lot of things

[wildct2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violent telling of a chapter in American history.

[Stephanie Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thorough overview of the battle of Lexington and Concord. Good historical background is provided, but once it gets into the actual battle I get a little lost. A map or two would have been helpful for me. Brown doesn't shy away from portraying the violence of the day, but the cartoony illustrations mutes the effect enough that I wouldn't consider it inappropriate for upper elementary. Some of the people mentioned (Mother Batherick, Samuel Whittemore) breathe life into the story; others; stories (Paul Revere, General Gage) might have been told with a little more pizzazz. Overall a good choice for 4th-6th grade readers on the first day of the American Revolutionary War, though I would like to compare it with Dennis Brindell Fradin's book of the same name.