Revolutionary Heroes: True Stories of Courage from America's Fight for Independence

by Pat Williams, Jim Denney

Introduce Young Readers to Inspiring Figures from Early American History

We live in scary and unpredictable times, and times of crisis call for heroes. Despite our recent obsession with all things superhero, real heroes are just regular people who rise to the challenge when the going gets tough--like the people who won the American Revolutionary War.

Some famous, some obscure, but all models of courage under fire, these ordinary people followed their convictions, took tremendous risks, and faced dire consequences should they fail. Yet they stuck to their principles, winning the most unlikely of victories and not only shaping a new country but reshaping the world. Now Pat Williams brings their stories to vivid life for children ages 9-12.

These engaging stories of men, women, and even kids who showed courage despite overwhelming odds during America's fight for freedom will inspire young readers to face their fears, take calculated risks, and imagine a better future for themselves and their country.

173 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2023

About the author

Patrick Livingston Murphy Williams was an American sports executive, who served as senior vice president of the Orlando Magic. Williams began his career as a minor league baseball player, and later joined the front office of his team. In the late 1960s he moved into basketball, with his biggest achievements being the 1983 title of the Philadelphia 76'ers and being a partner in the creation of the Orlando Magic.

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always looking for good nonfiction books for my students and my own children. I enjoyed this collection of notable men and women from the Revolutionary War. The book covers a good amount of information, and I love that it includes such a variety of people (well-known and lesser-known, children and grown adults, black and white, men and women).

There were a few times in the book where the author switched to first person and shared personal opinions about the historical figures with controversial stories. (For example, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington owning slaves.) I do think that it is important to bring these facts up, especially in a children's book. It's important to discuss all sides of history. However, in this book it felt out of place within the chapters. It might have worked better as an author's note at the end of those chapters. It also surprised me that Andrew Jackson had a tiny sentence about his controversial future presidency, when he showed such hatred for the Native Americans and had such a huge role in the Trail of Tears. If we are going to discuss the good and the bad, it needs to all be there.

I think this book would be a great introduction to these important men and women of the Revolutionary War, and would hopefully spark an interest in children to learn more about the amazing individuals!

Thank you to Revell, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revolutionary Heroes by Pat Williams and Jim Denney is a compilation of men and women who were heroes during the American Revolutionary War. We hear about famous men such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin along with many other less recognizable Americans. We also hear the stories about some of the women who helped the American cause: Sarah Fulton, Sybil Luddington, and Betsy Ross. The book tells us about the bravery and courage exhibited by these and many more people. I love history and this book inspires me to read more about the individuals who were instrumental in winning the war and shaping the United States government. I recommend this book to young readers and hope it will inspire them, as well.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are positives and negatives about this book. On the negative side, there were some people mentioned that are not well known and were also not that interesting. I wish they had kept the people talked about to more well-known Revolutionary Heroes. On the positive side, it was easy to read and had tons of helpful information about each hero. I liked the writing style and how each hero was presented differently. I liked the overall positive vibe of this book and how it highlighted positive people within American history. Would definitely recommend it for any child/student who loves American history.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Revell, for the temporary digital ARC that I read and gave my honest opinion of.

[Lellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that this book covered lesser known female, Black, and children who were part of the American Revolution in addition to the big names like Paul Revere, Washington, Franklin, etc. I learned about all of this in school, including the Boston Massacre, but for whatever reason I didn't know that the first casualties of the Revolutionary War were a child and a Black man. The American public school system strikes again.

This book is published by a Christian Pub house, so there are sprinkles of Christian values and undertones in it. But overall, I thought it was interesting and informative and inclusive.

Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Abigail Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun but historically educational read of so many people who played a part in Americas Revolutionary War.
The book is geared for younger readers but anyone can benefit.
With our history being erased, books like this are so important. Young people need to read true history. Most young people today would not stand up to tyranny and risk their lives to save their freedoms.
Freedom is never free! Freedom was bought with the blood, tears, and sacrifice of true patriots.

[Kerrific Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection for young revolutionary war learners. Easy for reference or reading with the well known heros and many other names of the times. A great addition to any classroom or home library.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much about different individuals involved in the Revolutionary War! I found each story engaging, informative and very approachable for the target age range!