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Steve Sheinkin
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King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution Kindle Edition

by Steve Sheinkin (Author), Tim Robinson (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 627 ratings
See all formats and editions

New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Honor recipient Steve Sheinkin gives young readers an American history lesson they'll never forget in the fun and funny King George: What Was His Problem?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the American Revolution, featuring illustrations by Tim Robinson.

A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

What do the most famous traitor in history, hundreds of naked soldiers, and a salmon lunch have in common? They’re all part of the amazing story of the American Revolution.

Entire books have been written about the causes of the American Revolution.
This isn't one of them.

What it is, instead, is utterly interesting, ancedotes (John Hancock fixates on salmon), from the inside out (at the Battle of Eutaw Springs, hundreds of soldiers plunged into battle "naked as they were born") close-up narratives filled with little-known details, lots of quotes that capture the spirit and voices of the principals ("If need be, I will raise one thousand men, subsist them at my own expense, and march myself at their head for the relief of Boston" --George Washington), and action. It's the story of the birth of our nation, complete with soldiers, spies, salmon sandwiches, and real facts you can't help but want to tell to everyone you know.

“For middle-graders who find Joy Hakim’s 11-volume A History of US just too daunting, historian Sheinkin offers a more digestible version of our country’s story...The author expertly combines individual stories with sweeping looks at the larger picture—tucking in extracts from letters, memorable anecdotes, pithy characterizations and famous lines with a liberal hand.”—Kirkus Reviews

Also by Steve Sheinkin:

Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon
The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights
Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team
Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War
Which Way to the Wild West?: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About Westward Expansion
Two Miserable Presidents: Everything Your Schoolbooks Didn't Tell You About the Civil War
Born to Fly: The First Women's Air Race Across America

Previous page
  1. Reading age
    10 - 14 years
  2. Print length
    209 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    5 - 9
  5. Lexile measure
    880L
  6. Publisher
    Flash Point
  7. Publication date
    July 7, 2009
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  12. ISBN-13
    978-1250075772
  13. See all details
Next page

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In his amusing opening statement, Confessions of a Textbook Writer, Sheinkin divulges that while writing history textbooks, he stashed away the good stuff, cool stories that he knew would be edited out. Some of them appear in this riveting account that was first published as a paperback called The American Revolution (2005). The new edition features many droll line drawings that suit the tone of the writing and source notes for the extensive quotes. Sheinkin clearly conveys the gravity of events during the Revolutionary period, but he also has the knack of bringing historical people to life and showing what was at stake for them as individuals as well as for the new nation. Often irreverent, the humor and informal tone of the writing help break through the patina of praise that too often encases figures from the American Revolution in books for young people. Vivid storytelling makes this an unusually readable history book. Grades 4-7. --Carolyn Phelan

Review

“For middle-graders who find Joy Hakim's 11-volume A History of US just too daunting, historian Sheinkin offers a more digestible version of our country's story--opening with an account of the American Revolution from the despised but not-unreasonable Stamp Act to the dramatic race to Yorktown. Beneath breezy chapter subheads like "Revere and That Other Guy" and "Party at Fort Ti," the author expertly combines individual stories with sweeping looks at the larger picture--tucking in extracts from letters, memorable anecdotes, pithy characterizations ("...John Adams, well known lawyer, Patriot, and grump") and famous lines with a liberal hand. Except for a few cramped maps, Robinson's illustrations are all line-drawn cartoon portraits that echo the narrative's informality without adding much. Still, capped with a healthy "Whatever Happened To..." section, this animates the Revolution's times, events and people in a way that standard textbooks don't. A second volume on the Civil War, Two Miserable Presidents (ISBN: 978-1-59643-320-5-0), is also out. (index, adult-level source lists) (Nonfiction. 10-13)” ―Kirkus Reviews

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00633W4Y8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Flash Point; Illustrated edition (July 7, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 7, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2545 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 209 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 627 ratings

About the author

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Steve Sheinkin

Steve Sheinkin

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A former textbook writer, Steve Sheinkin is now making amends by writing history books that kids and teens actually want to read. His award-winning nonfiction books include FALLOUT, BOMB, UNDEFEATED, THE PORT CHICAGO 50, MOST DANGEROUS, THE NOTORIOUS BENEDICT ARNOLD, LINCOLN'S GRAVE ROBBERS, BORN TO FLY, and his newest title, IMPOSSIBLE ESCAPE. His chapter book series, TIME TWISTERS, is a history/comedy mash-ups - just another way to make history come alive for readers. Steve lives with his family in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Customer reviews

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Top reviews from the United States

Carlyn Beccia
5.0 out of 5 stars Raucous Royals Book Review: A history book faster than Billy Dawes famous ride...
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2008
Verified Purchase
I bought this book because of the title. I have always thought George III was a dullard so I was dieing to find out exactly what the title promised...what was his problem??? When I opened it up, I realized that this book was about the American Revolution (Yes, I missed the small print in the subtitle). Horror! Not another American history book. As a native of Boston, we laugh at the tourists who think the Battle of Bunker Hill was really fought on Bunker Hill. And there are only so many Boston duck tours and Lexington Battle reenactments that one person can stand in a lifetime. So you can imagine my disappointment when I realized the book that I thought would teach kids about royalty was really about those ruffians, our founding fathers. Don't kids have enough books on the American Revolution?

Boy was I wrong. Kids need this book.

First off, Sheinkin's book is full of amusing antidotes about real people and not the cardboard cutouts that appear in text books. For example, who would have thought that Sam Adams, the sharp dressed guy on my favorite beer, was a sloppy dresser and had a thing for salmon. Did you know that Patrick Henry was a bit of a motor mouth? Yes, we hear tales of Washington's troops being a bunch of hooligans, but did you know that Washington also had to break up a thousand-man snow ball fight between Massachusetts and Virginia?

What really sucked me in was not just the trivia. Sheinkin has a rare ability to tell history from all sides without getting too weighed down in the details. Best of all, he remembered the ladies. For example, did you know that Hannah Davis could watch the minutemen battling from her house? Have you ever thought about what Dorothy Quincy was doing in the middle of the melee? You will have to get the book to find out.

Readers also get plenty of real quotes, letters, maps, and George Washington's bad love poems. The text book information is there, but the pace is faster than Billy Dawes famous ride (Sheinkin calls this section "Revere and That Other Guy") Yes, King George III only makes a few cameo appearances, but the reader won't miss him. (I still think he is a dullard) Overall, what really makes King George work is the fact that readers can take away far more than George's dilemma. You start to see what everyone's problem was, and most importantly, how so many colorful personalities (with very different opinions) came together for one goal.

A quick mention on the art: Tim Robinson's hilarious pen and ink illustrations also give an extra layer of sauciness to the characters. George has the perpetual "I can't believe I am being disobeyed" look of shock and Robinson captures the blustering, larger-than-life nature of Ethan Allen perfectly.

Note: The age range is 9-12, but I really hate when Amazon dumps books into this category. The age range should say 9+ because adults will enjoy this book as much as kids.
20 people found this helpful
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V. L. Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars THE REAL STORY OF HOW AMERICA GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM ENGLAND
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2013
Verified Purchase
After enjoying Steve Sheinkin's book, "Which Way To The Wild West" in the paperback version, I immediately ordered this one on the Kindle and read it thru in one sitting - it is that good - and so much fun to read! Now I'm ordering the paperback version for my library and to share with the grandkids especially. This book is a good read-aloud book to kids of all ages because it is true. I want to read all of Sheinkin's books!

As an American who thought she knew everything about her country and its history, I discovered anew the trials and tribulations of the war for independence in this surprising version complete with quotes you probably never heard of! I loved reading every exciting page, some of which were hilarious. The author provides his sources and an index, plus he is a history textbook writer who does extensive research. He provides humorous cartoons as well as insights into the characters we learned about in school (Paul Revere, Ethan Allen, Ben Franklin, Benedict Arnold, etc. etc.)

"People can be divided into three groups, said someone named J.W. Newbern; those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened!" You'll find all three groups in this amazing book! Since I live near Valley Forge, Pa. I have often envisioned Washington's army surviving that difficult winter. I have a 1935 copy of the Siege of Yorktown - a fascinating account of that battle which is cleverly depicted by Steve Sheinkin. Tourists throng Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell and the historical part of our city, and the 4th. of July is a joyous occasion especially thruout the original colonies as these states remember the brave men who fought and died so America would be free.

This book makes famous, infamous, and some interesting folks you never knew existed during that time, come to life! Buy the book so you can share it or read it to kids - they will LOVE it and it's the perfect way to teach them why and how the revolutionary war was fought with King George's England.
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Debbie Hudson
5.0 out of 5 stars What to make the American Revolution fun to learn about? Look no further!
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2013
Verified Purchase
I cannot say enough great things about this book!
Here is one question for you though. Do you know who Ethan Allen was? I didn't but this book will tell you. I home school my daughters and found this book in our local library by accident. I thought it looked interesting so I checked it out. I quickly realized that it was a book I needed to own. There is so much to learn in this book! And it is extremely well written! Love the humor. Love the stories and people I never learned about in school. Love learning about Sam Adams and why the Stamp Act didn't work. I think libraries should have this book in the children's and the adult's sections. While looking up something else in the library with the librarians help we again ran across this book. I asked the librarian if she had read it. She said no. I told her a couple of the cool stories like the Ethan Allen. She brought it to her desk to read. The next time I was in the library she saw me and told me how much she had enjoyed to book too.
When were reading this book my daughters did not want me to stop reading. They would even ask if I could read more. We all laughed until we cried about the Sam Adams and the Stamp Act.
I have read sections to my parents. They borrowed the book and on their summer RV trip my mom reads it to my dad while he is driving. It has caused them to stop and see Fort Ticonderoga.
Whether you homeschool or not this is a fantastic book that your whole family will enjoy and learn from.
I have since bought other books by Steve Sheinkin. Love them too. I also checked out "Bomb" from our library and read it too. It is about the atomic bomb. Wow did I learn a ton! My husband is reading it now.
Thanks so much Mr. Sheinkin!
13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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E. Leisering
5.0 out of 5 stars Tolles Buch
Reviewed in Germany on November 28, 2017
Verified Purchase
Spannend, locker und mit Humor geschrieben und kein schweres Englisch (Niveau B2 reicht aus). Man erfährt interessante Fakten über amerikanischen Unabhängigkeits Krieg. Sehr zu empfehlen.
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