New Jersey: 1609-1776

Voices from Colonial America

by Robin S. Doak

Eye-catching graphics and engaging narrative create a compelling picture of life in colonial New Jersey. Originally settled by the Dutch as part of their "New Netherland," New Jersey did not flourish as a colony until it came under British control in 1664. Readers will learn how the promise of political and religious freedom led to its becoming the first Quaker colony in America and one of the most ethnically diverse. They'll learn how, for a while, it was divided into East and West Jersey, how it had its own version of the Boston Tea Party, and how its location between New York City and Philadelphia made it the site of nearly 100 battles during the struggle for independence that eventually led to its becoming the nation's third state.

112 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up because my kid is studying this time period in Social Studies. I was hoping to find more background than was in the regular textbook they brought home, and I tend to check out the kids' books for a quick and engaging introduction to a topic. There are some interesting tidbits, and a tiny bit more than the textbook covered... but not much. Would be fine for homeschooling. There are sidelights on women, slaves and indentured servants which might be helpful for school reports, though. I also liked the way the author addressed the situation with settlers buying land from the Lenape, and the Lenape thinking they were buying co-using rights instead. Just not a compelling read.