Songs of America: Young Reader's Edition: Patriotism, Protest, and the Music That Made a Nation

by Jon Meacham, Tim McGraw

An adaptation for young readers of the outstanding adult bestseller by Pulitzer Prize–winning writer Jon Meacham and Grammy Award–winning artist Tim McGraw celebrating America and the music that shaped it.

Songs of America explores the music of important times in our history—the stirring pro- and anti-war music of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, World Wars I and II, and the Vietnam War; the folk songs and popular music of the Great Depression, the fight for women’s rights, and the Civil Rights movement; and the music of both beloved and lesser-known poets, musicians, and songwriters from Colonial times to the twenty-first century. Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jon Meacham and Grammy Award–winning artist Tim McGraw present the songs of patriotism and protest that gave voice to the politicians and activists who moved the country forward, seeking to fulfill America’s destiny as the land of liberty and justice for all.
Readers will recognize pages from the American songbook—examples include “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “We Shall Overcome,” and “Born in the U.S.A.”—and will be introduced to lesser-known but equally important works that have inspired Americans to hold on to the tenets of freedom at the roots of our nation.
Adapted from the adult bestseller, Songs of Young Readers Edition highlights the unique role music has played in uniting and shaping a nation.

Genres: Music, History, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published April 25, 2023

About the author

Jon Ellis Meacham is an American writer, reviewer, historian and presidential biographer who is serving as the Canon Historian of the Washington National Cathedral since November 7, 2021. A former executive editor and executive vice president at Random House, he is a contributing writer to The New York Times Book Review, a contributing editor to Time magazine, and a former editor-in-chief of Newsweek. He is the author of several books. He won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography for American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. He holds the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Endowed Chair in American Presidency at Vanderbilt University.

Reviews

[Melanie Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I read the adult version, I would have given this four stars. I learned a lot, and the book is packed with amazing songs that have gotten our nation through tumultuous times. However, I read the young reader's edition, which is why I'm taking off a star. They didn't do a good job of making this accessible to younger readers. The vocabulary is still extremely difficult, and it assumes a lot of prior knowledge that young readers simply won't have. There is also content that I don't know is appropriate for younger readers. (The Entertainment Weekly cover with The Dixie Chicks in the nude? Really?)

I have been looking high and low for a book on the history of popular music in American to use in our homeschool, and despite this one's flaws, I'm still going to use it. I'll just have to fill in some of the gaps and skip other parts. This also doesn't give a history of popular music, per se. Instead it highlights music that has, as the title says, inspired either patriotism or protest. I think it will be a good starting point, and I'm excited to introduce my kids to these songs.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I hoped it would be. I was hoping for a folk and traditional music sourcebook (including chords and sheet music) that would succinctly connect our nation's history with some of the songs that define the important moments of our nation. Instead, what I got was a text-dense history book that listed songs in poem form. Kids would pick up this book because of the attractive cover, and put it down just as fast because it reads like a history text. The best use of this book would probably be for 5th grade teachers, whose curriculum is American History, to read it themselves and incorporate the songs into their teaching of American History.

[Ronielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the information I learned while reading this book. However, it falls quite short in being a Young Reader's adaptation. I wish either a YA author or educator had been involved in creating this as it might have been more successful.

[Brandi Fundingsland · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I found this book interesting, it reads like a text book, which isn't going to win appeal with young readers. Instead. I think it would be a great resource for a US history course

[Jami Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great blend of history and music.