Colonial Boston

Children's Literature

This "Travel Guide" series allows readers to explore and experience the culture of historic Boston. Founded in 1630, Boston is one of America's oldest cities. The city is the birthplace of America's freedom. Paul Revere, the Tea Party and several important battles in the War of Independence took place in or near Boston. Four historic landmarks—the North Church, the State House, the Old South Meeting House and Faneuil Hall—were important during the War of Independence. Boston was a major metropolitan area even during the colonial era. It offered great shopping for quilts, silver, wigs, and muskets. Entertainment included cockfighting, theater, and horse racing. Boston is on the Atlantic Ocean, which is one reason why so many immigrants have come to America through that old city. To enhance learning the book includes black and white maps, diagrams, photographs and an annotated bibliography. 2004, Lucent Books/The Gale Group, Ages 11 to 13.
—Michele Wilbur

School Library Journal

Gr 6-10-Written as a guide to Boston as the city prepares to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the end of the American Revolution, this book presents a variety of advice and activities for tourists in a you-are-there writing style. However, the text suffers from some errors, omissions, and odd inclusions. Readers are advised to buy a map by Osgood Carleton, but the year is 1793 and Carleton's first map was published in 1795. The text refers to reading one of the two newspapers available as four-page weeklies, implying that these were the only two available. The Boston Public Library has a variety of local newspapers on microfilm, including the Columbian Centinel, published 1784-1840, and The American Apollo, published 1792-1794. The reproductions, many of them woodcuts, have informative captions, but these captions and the text don't always agree. Still, readers will get a feel for the city during the Revolutionary period and shortly thereafter. The chapters offer a brief history, places to stay and places to eat, major historical landmarks, a walking tour, shopping suggestions, entertainment, and day trips. A number of maps are included, as well as directions for reaching the places on this tour. Primary-source material includes quotes from important people of the day. All in all, this tour is better suited for casual readers than for reports.-Marilyn Fairbanks, Azure IRC, Brockton High School, MA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.