The Boston Massacre

School Library Journal

Gr 7-9-A well-researched, readable book. Lukes presents a fair and detailed look at the many facets of the Boston Massacre: historical background, events, trials, and aftermath. After an overview of the 1770 event, the author discusses the defense of the British soldiers who fired into a crowd, killing five men. Each case is treated separately, with a discussion of the accused, the defense, the trials, and the outcomes. First-person accounts add much to the book's usefulness and authenticity; they are scattered throughout, mostly in boxes or sidebars. Editorial cartoons, portraits, engravings, and sidebars are included. This title will be used more frequently as part of studies of the American Revolution than as a study of the judicial system, but, nevertheless, it's an excellent addition to the series, with nothing comparable for this age group.-Linda Beck, Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA