Biography

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Freedman, Russell. 2010. LAFAYETTE AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. New York, NY: Holiday House. ISBN- 9780823421824.  

PLOT SUMMARY
Follow the life of one of the leading men of the American Revolution, Gilbert de Lafayette, a French nobleman who played a pivotal role in the war. Lafayette was a young man of nineteen when he defied his king in order to join the American Revolution.       

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
LAFAYETTE AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is a biography which covers Lafayette’s life from birth to death while focusing on his contribution to the American Revolution. The book is organized in sequential order with the exception of the first chapter which first introduced Lafayette’s plans to join the American Revolution. The author uses multiple quotes throughout the book from Lafayette and other’s comments about him. The author provides source notes which documents the quotes he chose to use. The book is age appropriate for the intended audience. Boys would especially enjoy reading about Lafayette’s life. Included in the book is: portraits of figures discussed in the book, illustrations, letters, and Lafayette’s signature all of which enhance the design of the book. The author integrated a time line at the end of the book which allows researchers to quickly look at a year to discover the important events that occurred. In addition to the source notes the author provides a work cited of all of the materials used to research for the book.     

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
"In this solidly researched and smoothly written biography, Freedman creates a vivid portrait of Lafayette . . . Handsomely designed with a spacious format and good use of color."—Booklist
"Freedman [writes] with an acute eye for fascinating detail and significant facts. An interesting and useful commentary on selected sources rounds out another superb volume by a master of his craft."—Kirkus Reviews

Honors

A 2011 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year

CONNECTIONS

Allow students to listen to some ballads written during the American Revolution then have the students write a ballad of their own based on an important figure from the American Revolution.

Lafayette and the American Revolution

Lincoln: A Photobiography