Book Review: ‘Great Battles for Boys: The American Revolution,’ Created to Instill a Love of Reading and History for Young Readers

A reenactment of the victory and final battle of the War for Independence, the Battle of Yorktown. Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock

The battles of the American Revolution are the centerpiece for the eighth installment of the “Great Battles for Boys” series written by Joe Giorello. In about 200 pages, the author takes young readers through the important battles―wins, losses, and draws―during the War for Independence.

This book accomplishes precisely what its author has set out to do, which is to get young boys interested in reading by way of the most exhilarating subject: war. The series includes the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and even battles of the ancient world and Middle Ages.

Brief and Concise

At the start, Giorello addresses the reasons that the American colonists decided to fight for independence. He discusses several of the laws that King George III issued, such as the Stamp Act, the Tea Act, and the Intolerable Acts. There is also a brief backstory about the French and Indian War, which was why the British parliament and the king thought it necessary to tax the colonists.