We Were There, Too! Young People in U.S. History

by Hoose, Phillip

• ISBN13: 9780374382520
• ISBN10: 0374382522
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-08-08
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Summary

"This may be the most exhilarating and revelatory history of our country. It is must reading for today's youth-as well as their elders." --Studs Terkel From the boys who sailed with Columbus to today's young activists, this unique book brings to life the contributions of young people throughout American history. Based on primary sources and including 160 authentic images, this handsome oversized volume highlights the fascinating stories of more than 70 young people from diverse cultures. Young readers will be hooked into history as they meet individuals their own age who were caught up in our country's most dramatic moments-Olaudah Equiano, kidnapped from his village in western Africa and forced into slavery, Anyokah, who helped her father create a written Cherokee language, Johnny Clem, the nine-year-old drummer boy who became a Civil War hero, and Jessica Govea, a teenager who risked joining Cesar Chavez's fight for a better life for farmworkers. Throughout, Philip Hoose's own lively, knowledgeable voice provides a rich historical context-making this not only a great reference-but a great read. The first U.S. history book of this scope to focus on the role young people have played in the making of our country, its compelling stories combine to tell our larger national story, one that prompts Howard Zinn, author ofA People's History of the United States, to comment, "This is an extraordinary book-wonderfully readable, inspiring to young and old alike, and unique." Phillip Hooseis an award-winning author of books, essays, stories, songs, and articles. Although he first wrote for adults, he turned his attention to children and young adults, in part to keep up with his own daughters.Hey, Little Antwas named by the Jane Addams Children's Book Committee as one of four children's books that "most effectively promote the cause of peace, social change and world community."It's Our World, Too!: Stories of Young People Who Are Making a Differencewon the Christopher Award. It was a comment made by a young social activist he interviewed forIt's Our World, Too!that inspiredWe Were There, Too!Sarah Rosen pointed out: "We're not taught about younger people who have made a difference. Studying history almost makes you feel like you're not a real person." Phil says, "We Were There, Too!is an effort to stitch together a sense of our nation's history through the stories of scores of young people, as many girls as boys, from the major cultures in our national tapestry. In writing this book, my own love for history and biography increased immeasurably." Phil is a staff member of The Nature Conservancy and he lives with his family in Portland, Maine. He is also a founding member of the Children's Music Network. "Shoot me if you dare. I will not tell you." Dicey Langston, age fifteen, to a gun-pointing loyalist in 1780, who demands she reveal a patriot secret. This unique book is the first to tell the story of the role young people have played in the making of our nation. It brings to life their contributions throughout American historyfrom the boys who sailed with Columbus to today's young activists. Based largely on primary sourcesfirst-person accounts, journals, and interviewsit highlights the fascinating stories of more than seventy young people from diverse cultures. Meet Olaudah Equiano, kidnapped from his village in western Africa and forced to endure a terrifying voyage into slavery; Rebecca Bates, who with her sister plays the fife and drum that scare off British soldiers during the War of 1812; and Anyokah, who helps her father create a written Cherokee language. Descend into the darkness of a Pennsylvania coal mine with nine-year-old Joseph Miliauskas for a ten-hour day that leaves his fingers bloody; read Carolyn McKinstry's account of being hosed by police

Author Biography

Phillip Hoose is an award-winning author of books, essays, stories, songs, and articles. Although he first wrote for adults, he turned his attention to children and young adults, in part to keep up with his own daughters. Hey, Little Ant was named by the Jane Addams Children's Book Committee as one of four children's books that "most effectively promote the cause of peace, social change and world community." It's Our World, Too!: Stories of Young People Who Are Making a Difference won the Christopher Award. It was a comment made by a young social activist he interviewed for It's Our World, Too! that inspired We Were There, Too! Sarah Rosen pointed out: "We're not taught about younger people who have made a difference. Studying history almost makes you feel like you’re not a real person." Phil says, "We Were There, Too! is an effort to stitch together a sense of our nation's history through the stories of scores of young people, as many girls as boys, from the major cultures in our national tapestry. In writing this book, my own love for history and biography increased immeasurably." Phil is a staff member of The Nature Conservancy and he lives with his family in Portland, Maine. He is also a founding member of the Children's Music Network.

Table of Contents

"A treasure chest of history come to life, this is an inspired collection. Readers could easily get lost in it by simply dipping into one compelling story after another . . . Because the book is packed with historical documents, evocatively illustrated . . . and full fo eyewitness quotations, it should prove valuable to young historians and researchers." -Starred, School Library Journal