Judith Edwards

This is a book meant for perhaps a 9-12 year old depending on their interests and reading level. I like this kinds of books when I just want a general overview and not a 900 page book ( which I now no longer have the patience or inclination to bother with these days ) on an interesting person or topic.

If I find it very interesting I may look further afield and get something from the adult section that is more detailed but still not 900 pages long.

If you just need some basic facts of the Nat Turner insurrection, this should fit the bill.… (mehr)

I enjoyed reading "The Great Expedition of Lewis and Clark: by Private Reubin Field", but I think it bordered a thin line between narrative nonfiction and actual fiction. The description of the book on the front jacket describes the book as follows: "Focusing on a lesser-known figure from the corps, Judith Edwards has imagined what Reubin's voice might be like, and how he might have told the story of the two-year-and-four-month journey." I found this a bit confusing. How can the story be considered nonfiction if the narrator's thoughts were only imagined? This slight confusion aside, I do think the book has potential to capture the interest of young readers, especially those with a penchant for adventure.… (mehr)

This book is told through the eyes of one of the young men from Kentucky that explored with Lewis and Clark. Hearing the stories of their training, travels, exploring, and findings feels true and connected from the point of view of someone there, Reubin Field. The book is informational and captivating to keep a young reader enticed by this part of history. I like that the story isn't only about their adventures but it gives the reader background information and what happened after Reubin returned home. The story feels more whole and complete set up like this, it reminds the reader that these were real people who lived lives like everyone else and had a great adventure.
The illustrations in this book also help tell the story and make it come alive off the pages entangled with the words. There are normally illustrated pictures that capture what is happening on the page and then there are also illustrations that look like doodles. These doodles are drawn as maps, coordinates, flowers, spears and other things the men may have encountered on their journey and jotted down to keep memory and information from it. This again makes the trip and explorers more real showing things as they saw them and captured them along with seeing the story brought to life in the normal illustrations.… (mehr)