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Star-Spangled: The Story of a Flag, a Battle, and the American Anthem
The little-known and inspiring story behind the national anthem and the stars and stripes
“O say can you see” begins one of the most recognizable songs in the US. Originally a poem by Francis Scott Key, the national anthem tells the story of the American flag rising high above a fort after a night of intense battle during the War of 1812. But there is much more to the story than what is sung at ball games. What was this battle about? Whose bombs were bursting, and why were rockets glaring? Who sewed those broad stripes and bright stars? Why were free black soldiers fighting on both sides? Who was Francis Scott Key anyway, and how did he end up with such a close view? Star-Spangled tells the whole story from the perspectives of different real players—both American and British—of this obscure but important battle from American history. The book includes an author’s note, a timeline, a glossary, endnotes, a bibliography, and an index.
“O say can you see” begins one of the most recognizable songs in the US. Originally a poem by Francis Scott Key, the national anthem tells the story of the American flag rising high above a fort after a night of intense battle during the War of 1812. But there is much more to the story than what is sung at ball games. What was this battle about? Whose bombs were bursting, and why were rockets glaring? Who sewed those broad stripes and bright stars? Why were free black soldiers fighting on both sides? Who was Francis Scott Key anyway, and how did he end up with such a close view? Star-Spangled tells the whole story from the perspectives of different real players—both American and British—of this obscure but important battle from American history. The book includes an author’s note, a timeline, a glossary, endnotes, a bibliography, and an index.
176 pages, Hardcover
Published May 26, 2020
About the author
Tim Grove
8 books22 followersTim writes about surprising and fascinating topics in history and strives to make the past accessible and relevant to everyone. His writing combines hands-on experience with research, observation, insider perspective and a conversational style. He focuses on multiple perspectives in history and always attempts to incorporate interesting primary source materials. (George Washington's letter to his dentist during the American Revolution! It was confiscated by the British and is now part of the collection of British General Henry Clinton papers in a library in Michigan).
Tim's next book, his seventh book and fifth middle grade nonfiction book, is titled George Washington: A Revolutionary Life. It is a fresh biography of America's first president and introduces readers to this complex man and to a variety of interesting people whose lives intersected with George's life and who influenced him in many ways. Written and published with the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, it will be perfect reading for America's 250th birthday year.
Tim's book First Flight Around the World (Abrams, 2015) was a finalist for the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award in 2016.
He lives in northern Virginia and completed twenty years working at the Smithsonian Institution. He is currently writing and running a museum/history consulting business. grovehistoryconsulting.com
Tim's next book, his seventh book and fifth middle grade nonfiction book, is titled George Washington: A Revolutionary Life. It is a fresh biography of America's first president and introduces readers to this complex man and to a variety of interesting people whose lives intersected with George's life and who influenced him in many ways. Written and published with the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, it will be perfect reading for America's 250th birthday year.
Tim's book First Flight Around the World (Abrams, 2015) was a finalist for the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award in 2016.
He lives in northern Virginia and completed twenty years working at the Smithsonian Institution. He is currently writing and running a museum/history consulting business. grovehistoryconsulting.com
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 13, 2026
How much of the story behind America's national anthem do you know?
✏️ Review ✏️
Most every American is very familiar with their country's national anthem. The words and the tune can be called to thought almost instantly. But what is the story behind the creation of "The Star-Spangled Banner"? Star-Spangled takes readers back to the early 1800s and explores the individuals, events, battles, and circumstances that led to Francis Scott Key's penning of the now-famous words that have become the United States' famous anthem. There's more to the anthem's origin story than you think and many myths that have crept into the lore of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
With portraits, pictures, documents, information boxes, and maps, Star-Spangled recounts the history of the national anthem and those individuals involved in that history in an engaging and educational narrative. So read Star-Spangled and explore how out of the work of a small business seamstress, a prisoner release talk, a battle, a storm, and an anxious observer the beloved and renowned words of the American national anthem were born.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The overall narrative — it's educational and engaging.
• The many portraits, documents, maps, and such — these are effective visuals that make the narrative more vivid and engaging.
• The occasional information boxes — these gave interesting facets of history pertaining to the book's narrative.
• The epilogue — an informative summary of what happened to the historical figures discussed in the book.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• A few minor parts of the historical narrative's presentation — with the way it was written, it seemed a bit confusing to follow.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Of course.*
— To whom? To those who are looking for a nonfiction narrative about how the American national anthem came to be written.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3.75/5 [rounded up to 4 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals {Nonfiction Version}: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📑 Didactics: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 3/5
— 👀 Engagement: 4/5
— 🧩 Clarity: 3.5/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 0/5
— ⚔️ Violence: 0/5
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• (None)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
✏️ Review ✏️
Most every American is very familiar with their country's national anthem. The words and the tune can be called to thought almost instantly. But what is the story behind the creation of "The Star-Spangled Banner"? Star-Spangled takes readers back to the early 1800s and explores the individuals, events, battles, and circumstances that led to Francis Scott Key's penning of the now-famous words that have become the United States' famous anthem. There's more to the anthem's origin story than you think and many myths that have crept into the lore of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
With portraits, pictures, documents, information boxes, and maps, Star-Spangled recounts the history of the national anthem and those individuals involved in that history in an engaging and educational narrative. So read Star-Spangled and explore how out of the work of a small business seamstress, a prisoner release talk, a battle, a storm, and an anxious observer the beloved and renowned words of the American national anthem were born.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The overall narrative — it's educational and engaging.
• The many portraits, documents, maps, and such — these are effective visuals that make the narrative more vivid and engaging.
• The occasional information boxes — these gave interesting facets of history pertaining to the book's narrative.
• The epilogue — an informative summary of what happened to the historical figures discussed in the book.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• A few minor parts of the historical narrative's presentation — with the way it was written, it seemed a bit confusing to follow.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Of course.*
— To whom? To those who are looking for a nonfiction narrative about how the American national anthem came to be written.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3.75/5 [rounded up to 4 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals {Nonfiction Version}: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📑 Didactics: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 3/5
— 👀 Engagement: 4/5
— 🧩 Clarity: 3.5/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 0/5
— ⚔️ Violence: 0/5
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• (None)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
July 13, 2020
In the midst of reading a stack of books on race, I took a break and read this wonderful book on an inspiring moment of American history. Written by a friend of mine with whom I have shared many historical conversations, it is filled with Tim’s enthusiasm for both a moment in American history and the amazing flag that represents that moment., the Battle of Baltimore in The War of 1812.
You will be inspired by the different characters who were involved in this moment, both British and American. Not only is the narrative fresh and crisp, but Tim has provided primary documents like photographs and letters that illuminate this narrative. You will come away from reading this tale cheering for the American underdogs who prove to the British once and for all that they had a right to national sovereignty.
I recommend this book to middle schoolers through adults, particularly ones those who would like to learn more about American history.
You will be inspired by the different characters who were involved in this moment, both British and American. Not only is the narrative fresh and crisp, but Tim has provided primary documents like photographs and letters that illuminate this narrative. You will come away from reading this tale cheering for the American underdogs who prove to the British once and for all that they had a right to national sovereignty.
I recommend this book to middle schoolers through adults, particularly ones those who would like to learn more about American history.
July 19, 2024
“O say can you see…?” So begins the first verse of the American national anthem. Probably the most famous verse in the world. This is a wonderful book about the key (pun intended) players of the Battle of Baltimore, and the bombardment of Fort McHenry that gave way to the inspirational poem written by Francis Scott Key who witnessed it all. 5.0 bookworms
July 4, 2025
Read it with my kiddo after watching Liberty Kids.
Good detail, short enough not to drag on, but enough info for middle grade kids to understand the role of all people involved in America’s becoming. Insight on America’s lingo, symbolism, 🇺🇸 flags and songs! The photos, especially some of the hand-receipt photos were pretty cool.
Good detail, short enough not to drag on, but enough info for middle grade kids to understand the role of all people involved in America’s becoming. Insight on America’s lingo, symbolism, 🇺🇸 flags and songs! The photos, especially some of the hand-receipt photos were pretty cool.
March 10, 2026
I love myself some raw-real American history. This history of the flag the instigated the poem, that instigated the National Anthem was complex and fascinating. This is history I never learned and was excited to learn more about.
May 29, 2026
Celebrate America 250 with this engaging nonfiction history book that tells the story behind the American flag and the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the War of 1812. Through multiple perspectives—including soldiers, sailors, Francis Scott Key, free Black fighters, and the woman who sewed the famous flag Mary Pickersgill — the Battle of Baltimore and bombardment of Fort McHenry are vividly brought to life.
Themes of patriotism and national identity, the complexity of history, courage and sacrifice, the power of symbols, war and its human cost, and storytelling and memory.
Written for middle-grade readers but accessible to adults as well.
#GreekMythology ships names after characters in Greek mythology like Iphigenia.
Themes of patriotism and national identity, the complexity of history, courage and sacrifice, the power of symbols, war and its human cost, and storytelling and memory.
Written for middle-grade readers but accessible to adults as well.
#GreekMythology ships names after characters in Greek mythology like Iphigenia.
August 11, 2023
Really learned a lot about the war of1812. Also saw a special from Mike Rowe about this and Fort McKinley. My patriotic feed for this summer 4th of July.
December 8, 2023
AR 2023 - E
June 20, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Highly recommend it.
January 5, 2026
Great history of early Americans.
April 14, 2026
This was a good informational book there where some things I didn’t even know happened in the creation of the flag it was really good and helped me understand more put US history.
June 11, 2026
Great and short. I loved the background information for this iconic song and was a great choice as I ponder the 250th birthday of our country.
July 5, 2026
A good review.
July 27, 2026
Fun short read for America 250. Gave Key’s poem much deeper meaning
May 26, 2020
Author Tim Grove first saw the flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812's Battle of Baltimore when he worked for the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Just as seeing the flag inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words to the Star Spangled Banner after that battle, Mr. Grove was inspired to research the history of the flag and our national anthem. In this book, he has presented an entertaining and informative story of this piece of American history.
Although geared for young readers, the book is equally suited for adult reading. The story is told with a wide, all encompassing lens. In separate chapters, Mr. Grove talks about the history and geography of Baltimore, the woman who sewed the flag, the shipbuilders and ship captains involved in the battle, British and American military officers and their strategies, and the life of attorney and poet "Frank" Key, among other topics. In one fascinating chapter, he examines Britain's promise of freedom to African American slaves if they joined their cause, even going so far as to build a fort on an island off the coast in order to train these new troops.
Every page in the book is attractively designed and the chapters are liberally illustrated with maps, paintings, letters, portraits and other historic documents. Mr. Grove has done a staggering amount of research and delivered it in an easy-to-read page-turner of a book. Accompanying the text are a list of characters, an epilogue that follows the lives of the main characters, a timeline, glossary, suggested places to visit, notes and an index. This is an excellent nonfiction book for reading at home or in a classroom.
Although geared for young readers, the book is equally suited for adult reading. The story is told with a wide, all encompassing lens. In separate chapters, Mr. Grove talks about the history and geography of Baltimore, the woman who sewed the flag, the shipbuilders and ship captains involved in the battle, British and American military officers and their strategies, and the life of attorney and poet "Frank" Key, among other topics. In one fascinating chapter, he examines Britain's promise of freedom to African American slaves if they joined their cause, even going so far as to build a fort on an island off the coast in order to train these new troops.
Every page in the book is attractively designed and the chapters are liberally illustrated with maps, paintings, letters, portraits and other historic documents. Mr. Grove has done a staggering amount of research and delivered it in an easy-to-read page-turner of a book. Accompanying the text are a list of characters, an epilogue that follows the lives of the main characters, a timeline, glossary, suggested places to visit, notes and an index. This is an excellent nonfiction book for reading at home or in a classroom.
May 4, 2020
Good discourse into the History of our American flag. How the War of 1812 started and how it affected people from different nations and backgrounds, as well as the colonists surrounding the area. It delves into our national ange. And how this period of history influenced its creation. The book is well researched. Particularly like the brief overview at the back of the book. Good reference book for students and teachers great book for the school library. Good for adults to read since it has been some time since they were in school. Material is interesting and not prone to drag on or harp on any one topic.
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my volunteer review.
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my volunteer review.
December 19, 2020
Another chance for me to learn stuff. I actually had no idea of the point of the battle in which Key was inspired to write his poem; I had mostly forgotten that it was near Baltimore. Grove does a good job of pulling everything together, and also highlighting the woman who made the famous flag and then got forgotten by History. I guess Pickersgill doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as Ross.
There are good asides in the book and this works as a good way to accustom kids to read history books.
There are good asides in the book and this works as a good way to accustom kids to read history books.
July 11, 2020
this book was well written, and easy to follow. I enjoyed it very much. I enjoyed reading and discussing this book with my 9 and 7 year old boys. There has been a lot of talk about the flag recently - so it was a good time to read it.
I received a copy of this book through netgalley - all thoughts are my own.
I received a copy of this book through netgalley - all thoughts are my own.
March 28, 2021
An excellent work to highlight the origins of our national anthem! Grove is an historian who has presented primary sources mixed with the personal details of the characters in the story. The illustrations and side bars contribute to the whole. This is a great contribution to middle level nonfiction.
June 29, 2021
I wanted to enjoy this book, but it was very dry. The story was just kind of thrown out there without engaging writing. If I had a hard time getting through it, then my daughter and other children definitely will.
On the bright side, it's factual and it represented multiple perspectives from history.
On the bright side, it's factual and it represented multiple perspectives from history.
April 3, 2020
My son absolutely loved this book. It is beautifully illustrated and well written. There is a huge amount of information, written in an accessible way. I’d highly recommend for both the classroom and library.
October 29, 2020
I loved this! Puts some fresh insights into our national anthem.
August 13, 2021
This was a fun read. Not too long, but had some good detail around the characters and circumstances that inspired the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews