Thomas Paine

Children's Literature

Thomas Paine by Kate Davis is part of the "Triangle Histories of the Revolutionary War" series. This book describes the life of Thomas Paine and the significance of his writings to the Revolutionary War. Paine's writings, such as Common Sense, are thoroughly discussed—with an emphasis on the circumstances of the writings as well as the effect that they had on the colonists. The book also shows the significance of Common Sense when it says, "Though others had expressed similar ideas, Paine's book addressed a wider audience because it was written in language that common people could understand." However, when the book explains Paine's actions as an "official observer" of the Continental Army, the text focuses more on general warfare and strategy rather than Paine's personal experiences. In some chapters it seems that the book is more of a history of the war rather than a biography of Paine's life. Although the main focus of the book is the Revolutionary War time period, Davis also describes Paine's later works and involvement in the French Revolution. This book is good for readers who primarily want to know about Thomas Paine's contributions to the American Revolution, with a summary of the rest of his life. 2002, Blackbirch Press, Ages 8 to 12.
— Joella Peterson