Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton

by Margaret McNamara, Esmé Shapiro (Illustrator), Phillipa Soo (Afterword)

For fans of the musical Hamilton, here is a stunning picture book biography about Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton's extraordinary wife and an important figure in her own right.

We all know the story of scrappy Alexander Hamilton and his rise in American politics--but how much do we know about his workmate, inspiration, and stabilizing force, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton? Margaret McNamara employs the letter-writing style of the period to tell the story of Eliza Hamilton, who was born into a family of considerable wealth, power, and influence in Albany, New York, in 1757. Eliza was expected to marry into a similarly powerful family . . . until she met and fell in love with the charismatic Hamilton. She stood by him throughout his tumultuous life, and after his death, she single-handedly collected his papers and preserved them for historians and musical-theater writers of the future. Eliza outlived Hamilton by fifty years; during that time she founded the first orphanage in New York State, raised funds for the Washington Monument, and kept the flame of her husband's memory and achievements alive. Featuring Esme Shapiro's exquisite, thoroughly researched art, which mirrors paintings from 18th-century America, this is a beautiful and informative biography with extensive back matter.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Childrens, Historical, American History

48 pages, Hardcover

First published October 2, 2018

About the author

Margaret McNamara is the Christopher Award–winning author of more than two dozen books for young readers, including the Robin Hill School series. The Fairy Bell Sisters series is inspired not only by her love of the classic sisterhood novel Little Women but by her own experiences growing up with older sisters (and a baby brother). Margaret and her family live in New York City, but they spend part of their summer on an island in Maine very much like Sheepskerry Island.

Reviews

[Prabhjot Kaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eliza is the story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. It is narrated by Eliza herself in the form of letter writing to her great-granddaughter who is not yet born. She talks about her family tree, her childhood, her marriage to Alexander Hamilton, his death and how she never remarried and how she opened an orphanage and wasn't deterred to make a difference.

It's a nice story and has good illustrations but the print is way too small. I don't think it is suitable for young kids as they can't read such small print plus the wording is a little too formal as well.

3 stars

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence:

July 4, 1854, Washington
My dearly beloved Elizabeth, for I hope that is what you will be called, if you are born a girl, my daughter who is your grandmama, has asked me to devote this day to writing a letter to you, about my very long and fortunate life. I am not much given to letter-writing nowadays, nor was I ever inclined to write about myself, yet you may perhaps find much to interest you herein.

Premise/plot: It is a picture book biography of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. The framework of this one is that Eliza herself is telling her own story via letter to her yet unborn great-granddaughter. (This much is fact: the last year of Eliza's life--1854--her granddaughter was expecting a child.) The book spans her whole life--well, up until 1854.

My thoughts: I liked this one. I do think it is a picture book for older children; perhaps I'd even go so far as to say it's a picture book for adults. There is a LOT of text. I think for those that love, love, love the musical Hamilton and for those that also enjoy reading, this one is worth seeking out.



I liked the text; I liked the illustrations. But I didn't "love, love, love" either. I am glad I read it. It is nice to read picture books that touch upon history now and then.

Text: 3 out of 5

Illustrations: 3 out of 5

Total: 6 out of 10

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very respectful and insightful biography for families/kids.

[Beth Honeycutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely picture book about a lovely lady!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Broadway musical Hamilton has brought renewed interest in Alexander Hamilton who served as the nation's first Secretary of the Treasury. Those fascinated by him might find this book about his wife, Eliza, of interest. In it Eliza, writes a letter to her great-granddaughter in 1854, which gives her the chance to look back at her long life and all that she has seen. Not only did she support her husband in his political ambitions, but after his death, she was careful to preserve his letters and other writings, and became deeply involved in various causes, including raising funds for the Washington Monument and establishing the first private orphanage in New York City. While the letter itself is fictionalized, it certainly attests to Eliza's strong heart, compassion, and awareness of history. While she might not be as well known as her husband or as many other women during that period, surely, her story is an important addition to our nation's history. Her voice seems clear, aware, and determined in the text, which is supported by colorful illustrations, created with watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and graphite.

[Ana Marlatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations and good idea creating this picture book as a letter from Eliza, detailing the main events in her life. Nowadays, everyone is a Hamilton lover. It is great to see the women’s perspective on history. This is a work of fiction but it has been well researched. I do believe this picture book would be better for older graders. Maybe 5th graders could look at the revolutionary war through a feminine lens? I wonder how many younger kids will be able to connect with the text..

[TinTin Kalaw]

Discovery (July 9, 2016): ELIZA IS GETTING HER OWN BIOGRAPHY! ELIZA IS FINALLY GETTING HER OWN BIOGRAPHY!!!!!!!!!!!! (Source)

[Akemi G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning: I have not watched the musical Hamilton.
I gather Eliza was a good-hearted person and she did good things—in the context of her time and situation. The book also mentions her compassion for slaves. (shrug) However, this falls far too behind today’s understanding of American history. Why does her father and other white men have so much lands? Because the settlers stole lands from the indigenous peoples and a handful of white men were especially good at accumulating wealth, utilizing others’ labors. By marrying Eliza, young Alexander joined this elite community; this point was very vague in this story.

Yes, it’s a children’s book, and as such it has certain limitations. It may not be necessary to mention Alexander’s affair with Eliza’s sister. Even so, describing the duel as if it was a misfortune that fell out of the blue . . . whoa.

And I’m concerned that it doesn’t quite read like it was meant to be read by children. Exactly what age group? Or is this a disguise and it’s only meant to idealize the early history of this country, which is usually a white supremacist agenda

[Kristin Nare · Rating 5 out of 5]

We were so inspired by the life and legacy of Elizabeth Hamilton. She was a devoted wife, essentially furthering her husband Alexander Hamilton's impact as she helped him and was his sounding-board in political matters. She never remarried after his death but further promoted his legacy and spent much time and money in serving others, including orphans in her area. I could go on, but you should read the book. Now I need to go find an adult biography of her...She was truly a virtuous woman!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely lovely method of telling Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton's life and legacy, which is every bit as important as her (in)famous husband's. I loved the illustrations, and the way the story was framed as a letter to her unborn great-grandchild, who would ultimately not be born until after her death. Beautifully done!

*I do have a few small quibbles, though: be wary of the selected bibliography and chronology at the end of the book. One of the books that is cited, Desmond's Alexander Hamilton's Wife: A Romance of the Hudson is not something I would in any way call a credible source. It is more like historical fiction (and badly written historical fiction at that - the author inserts a character into the story that there is absolutely no evidence of, and to be frank, the whole thing is ridiculous). Also, the chronology claims that Eliza's son, James Hamilton, completed Alexander's biography after Eliza's death - incorrect. It was actually Eliza's son, John Church Hamilton, who did that. This may just be a misprint, but just providing fair warning.

[Michael & Photini Holverson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biographical picture book written in the fictional form of a letter from Elizabeth Hamilton that leaves me a bit perplexed on what category to classify it. It’s not captivating enough for the youngest listeners (3-5 yrs) while heavily fact based but also quite vague leaving the next age (6-8 yrs) feeling uninterested and not understanding the important roles she had. Yet this is a picture book which is meant to be basic and a summarization for the youth and it does just that. Of the picture books on Elizabeth Hamilton that we have read it is the best so far. Does this mean it was good? Not really.

On a side note, I found the illustrations disturbing and my children did not want to look at them either contenting themselves to just listen instead. The heads specifically are unproportionate at times and not depicting the age of the body it was on (ie: a baby has an adult face)

So why do I rate it a 4? It’s still a decent picture book and better then the others of the same in this category.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton is a children's picture book written by Margaret McNamara and illustrated by Esme Shapiro. It chronicles the life and times of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, a socialite and philanthropist, who just happens to be married to Alexander Hamilton.

Elizabeth Hamilton (née Schuyler) was a socialite and philanthropist and was married to American founding father Alexander Hamilton. She was a defender of his works and co-founder and deputy director of Graham Windham, the first private orphanage in New York City. Eliza is recognized as an early American philanthropist in regards to her work with the Orphan Asylum Society.

McNamara's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Written as an epistolary picture book, it envisions Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton as an elderly woman writing a letter to her yet-to-be-born great-granddaughter Elizabeth. McNamara provides a portrait of the subject beyond her famed marriage, as Hamilton recounts her work to build schools and orphanages. Expansive back matter includes an afterword from Phillipa Soo, who originated Hamilton's role in the musical Hamilton. Shapiro illustrates in delicate, pattern-laden mixed media while Hamilton, her husband, and other figures resemble finely featured paper dolls.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It details Hamilton's upbringing – including her family's ownership of slaves and her deep, subsequent regrets, her marriage to Alexander Hamilton and her social and political engagement alongside him, and his untimely death in a letter dedicated to her unborn great-granddaughter.

All in all, Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton is a well-researched and intricately illustrated portrait of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, the wife of Alexander Hamilton, whose story is just as important as her husband.

[Bookbag_Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I raised funds for the Washington Monument, which will one day rise in this city.

As I grew older, I came to realize it is a great sin, then and now, to hold souls as property, with no freedom, no pay and no surnames of their own.

I did not have to live in splendor when so many around me were wanting.

I would not stand for unkindness.

May God bless you and keep you...My prayer for you is that you live as full a life as I have been granted to live, and that you dedicate yourself to this great country, so that it may truly provide the promise of life and liberty for all.

TRAVELED TO // New York
MET ALONG THE WAY // Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by Esme Shapiro. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2018. $18. 978152476588

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Told entirely through the words of Eliza, this book is a snippet of the letters Eliza wrote. It pieces together the story of a woman and a nation. Eliza was born to privilege and rubbed shoulder with many leaders. She married Alexander and supported him as he defended the constitution and fought in the war. Eliza raised a big family and lost some of her children tragically and carried on Alexander’s name after he died. She even started an orphanage she was very proud of.

I love that his book was truly about Eliza, not just Eliza as related to her role as wife to Alexander. The writing was so formal that it will be hard for young readers to stay easily engaged with the text. Additionally, a lot of the themes of Eliza’s life appeal more to an adult reader than to a child. That said, this is an interesting angle from which we can learn more about the founding of the nation.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Lenore Kuipers-Cummins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really a cross between children's and adult literature. Plus...great art to reflect the time period.

This gives the reader a more personal look at Eliza Hamilton, and how she felt about things in her life; primarily her husband (and the role she played in Alexander's life and career), her upbringing, her 8 living children (she birthed 15 children), her friends like Martha Washington and Dolley Madison, and Eliza's part in history. She was a great lady who was a philanthropist as well, although she was never well-to-do.

The person who played the character of Eliza in the Broadway Production of "Hamilton" did a lot of research on Eliza before playing the part, and adds some notes about Eliza at the end of the book. There is a time line included, as well as many references listed that you go to if you want to know about this great lady who is often overlooked in early history.

I highly recommend it to all history aficionados, and to all readers, young and old.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a biographical picture book written as a letter from Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton near the end of her life to her great-grand child. She describes her life growing up in the wealthy home of her father in Albany, New York, her marriage to statesman Alexander Hamilton and the many works of public service she completed after his death. Eliza lived to be 92 – a long life indeed at the time and remained socially and politically relevant until the end of her life. Colorful folk-art style paintings serve as a lovely backdrop to a rather long and formal letter that makes this a choice for older readers rather than younger. An afterword form Phillipa Soo (who portrayed Eliza in Hamilton: An American Musical) should appeal to fans of the Broadway show and a timeline paired with a strong bibliography may spur readers into a more serious look at her life. Recommended for purchase.

[LaSheba Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good! Elizabeth "Eliza" Hamilton was a wife and mother during the early years of American History. She was married to Alexander Hamilton, a lawyer and first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

The book is set-up as a letter Eliza writes to her great-granddaughter about her life, philanthropy, and the preservation of her husband's legacy. It includes an afterword, chronology end notes, and a selected bibliography. More of a storybook with nice illustrations.

🌷Book Quotes:

"When I was born, these United States did not exist...Our government...was far away, in England, and we were ruled by a king."

"When my father died, my brothers, sisters, and I freed them all [slaves]...It seems the day is coming when our country will not permit any human person to be enslaved."

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A condensed look at the life of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton.
She was the champion of preserving the life of Alexander Hamilton.

Back matter includes commentary by the first artist to portray Eliza in the HamiltSheion musical.
She addresses her research to learn who this women she didn't know was.

A children's biography is condensed. In the back mater, the author includes notes referencing the book's pages "to help fill out the details". Brilliant and appreciated.

The text itself is gentle about the death of Philip and then Alexander, but the notes and Chronalogy in the back matter, is clear about the cause fo these deaths.

[Karrie Chajkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated book captured my heart the minute I saw the cover and the text drew me in to Eliza’s lovely story. What an amazing woman and written as a letter was a beautiful and touching part of the text. Truly a book to consider in some capacity but would it be better suited for 3-5 KBA Committee because of the content?

Regardless, would love to see more books like this for different historical figures of this time period! Beautiful work!

Sent to me by Random House Kids as part of the Kentucky Bluegrass Awards Committee for K-2. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. It is clearly well-researched and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton was an amazing woman whose story deserves to be told. The book is written as though Eliza herself was writing a letter to her great grandchild. I think that was a interesting approach, which the author does well. The only problem with it is that this is a children’s book and the way people wrote letters in that time is, quite frankly, dry and boring. I can’t imagine the writing grabbing the attention of most children; I know it didn’t fully grab mine.

[Tracy Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

The current craze of Alexander Hamilton through the success of Hamilton, the musical, has brought the history of our founding fathers back into the forefront. A much needed revisit to the thinking of our writers of the constitution is a welcome and needed journey. This biographical account speaks to Hamilton's wife, no doubt a woman who was instrumental in support of her husband and his role in the American experience.

Written in the voice of Eliza, through letters to her granddaughters, Eliza tells of her life before, during and after Alexander.

[Alissa Weiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Informational/Biography
Grade Level: K-3rd grade

The book is filled with fascinating information about Eliza's life. Children could learn many different facts about her life after they have finished reading this book. I do not believe kindergarteners would care for this book because the story is too in depth for five years olds. I would recommend this book for third and fourth graders because it is a wonderful resource book. I'm not sure if a first or second grader would care for this book either.

[Charlotte S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lovely book is about the wife of Alexander Hamilton, and her achievements as well as his. She was a remarkable woman and one that had to go through so much in her life. In the book, it is from Eliza's point of view as she writes a letter to her unborn great-granddaughter sharing her life story, full of service for others and selflessness. I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I do! *And before you ask, no I haven't seen the musical* Thank you for reading! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for more fun book recommendations!

[Read Ribbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

With all the interest in the musical Hamilton, this new picture book biography features the voice of Alexander Hamilton's wife Eliza. Cast as a letter to her great granddaughter, Eliza tells her life story as a partner and influence on her husband during colonial times. We learn of her devotion to orphans and the legacy she left. Broadway actress Phillipa Soo writes an afterword and te book provides other end notes including additional links and information.

[emyrose8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkable woman, and a shrewd, supportive wife. The book is written in a unique perspective: it’s told in the form of a letter written from Eliza to her future great-grandchild. The author did her homework and has very detailed notes in the back about the spreads. There is also an afterward by Phillipa Soo, the actress who plays Eliza in the Hamilton musical, websites of interest list, and a chronology.

[Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully illustrated look at the life and achievements of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. The story is told in the form of a letter Eliza is writing to her great granddaughter. Eliza's voice in the letter rings true to stories of her loyalty and privacy. I learned a lot about Eliza and the information in the back of the book showcases which parts of her legacy still exist. A wonderful informative read.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy, simplified version of Eliza's story that gives the reader a brief look into her life, accounting trials and successes along with Eliza's accomplishments on her own after Alexander Hamilton's death. Includes a lovely letter from Phillipa Soo, who played Eliza in the musical Hamilton, and a detailed bibliography.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meet the wife of President Alexander Hamilton. She was one of the nations first female philanthropists. She came from a wealthy family but didn't let that distract her from helping those in need. She had many children 2 died close to each other. Learn how she dealt with the difficult loss. She lived to be in her 90's which is very old for someone that lived during the American Revolution.

[Miss Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meet the wife of President Alexander Hamilton. She was one of the nations first female philanthropists. She came from a wealthy family but didn't let that distract her from helping those in need. She had many children 2 died close to each other. Learn how she dealt with the difficult loss. She lived to be in her 90's which is very old for someone that lived during the American Revolution.

[Elizabeth Seals · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who after watching Hamilton wanted to know everything about the characters but could never really find anything on Eliza, this book is heaven sent. It may be written for a Juvenile audience, but this book gives details that I really have not been able to find. This book also has wonderful eye-catching color illustrations! I would love to see more books like this be published!