The British are coming.
Jane Sutcliffe is the author of Leonardo's Monster, The Attack on Pearl Harbor, and Stone Giant- Michelangelo's David and How He Came To Be, as well as nearly two dozen biographies for young readers. She lives with her family on a farm in Tolland, Connecticut.
*If it seems that the War of 1812 doesn't thrive in the
classroom, crammed as it is between the massive units on the
Revolutionary and Civil wars, look to Sutcliffe's title as an
antidote. With just enough requisite scene setting, the author
launches straight into a gripping reconstruction of the events of
August 23 to 24, 1814, when the British invaded Maryland and the
nation's capital, burned its government buildings, terrified those
citizens who hadn't already fled, and then snuck silently out of
Washington in the middle of the night. The reporting is kept lively
by its heavy reliance on primary source material, with witnesses
and participants ranging from an American soldier who went to
battle in his formal dancing pumps, to British admiral Cockburn,
who couldn't resist taunting the people he vanquished, to Dolley
Madison, who kept up a running letter to her sister even as she
ordered dinner as usual and packed up the silver (and George
Washington's portrait), just in case. Throughout the narration
Sutcliffe keeps a keen eye open for those details that convey the
terror of an attack, and she reminds readers how coverage of such
an event might play out today: "Admiral Cockburn might have called
a press conference aboard his flagship, the Albion. There
might have been . . . a banner proclaiming 'Mission Accomplished.'"
With a gallery of well-selected images, source notes, bibliography,
index, and illustration credits which supplement the captions, this
account will be a first-rate addition to the American History
collection.
-The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, *starred
review
Sometimes referred to as "America's Second Revolution," the War of
1812 found British forces invading the newly founded capital city
of Washington, DC. Following the Battle of Bladensburg and the
embarrassing retreat of the U.S. militia, the British arrived at
the capital during the most oppressive weather conditions
imaginable to find the city largely abandoned. In this hour-by-hour
narrative, Sutcliffe provides a harrowing account of the day,
culminating with the burning of both the Capitol building and the
iconic White House, the flames of which could be seen as far away
as Baltimore. Extensively researched and thorough in coverage, this
book gives readers a full view of this compelling story and the
events leading up to the conflict. The title is enhanced by the
original maps, portraits, paintings, and drawings of key
personalities. Sutcliffe's use of primary sources is impressive as
she weaves together a seamless tale from a variety of perspectives.
The author draws upon firsthand accounts from a variety of sources
(respected military personnel, political figures, everyday
citizens, and slaves) to provide an impartial, well-rounded look at
this pivotal day in our nation's history and its aftermath. Certain
to spark interest in history aficionados, this title would be a
welcome purchase for most collections.
-School Library Journal
A graceful narrative skillfully draws from primary sources
to shed light on a key historic day. In 1814, the United States
lost a battle to the British on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.,
with shocking results. American soldiers fled from the battlefield,
and many residents of the capital fled from the city. "Then the
unthinkable: foreign invaders marched into Washington, torching
first the Capitol building, then the White House," reads the
introduction to this history. The chapters that follow detail the
day, starting before dawn and going through night, with two final
chapters about the aftermath. Sutcliffe deftly sets the battle and
invasion in the context of the War of 1812, introduces major
players, and explains unfamiliar material, like the use of rockets
as weapons. Quotes from those involved make the tale personal, with
reminiscences of a 15-year-old tourist, two young slaves and a
British officer. Many apt observations come from first lady Dolley
Madison, who wrote a letter throughout the day as she waited
bravely in the White House until danger was imminent. The polished
prose is matched by an attractive, open design with frequent
headings, pullout quotes and effective visuals, including
paintings, etchings and maps.
Elegant and illuminating.
-Kirkus Reviews
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