Starred Review ALA Booklist

Starred Review How does he do it? Once again Freedman takes a crucial moment in American history and imbues it with living grace and powerful tension. His account opens on the night of the Boston Tea Party as a 14-year-old apprentice escapes from his locked room, blackens his face, and sneaks aboard three ships in the harbor. Two hundred men and boys dumped the ships' cargo of tea in the water that night. All that trouble over a three-cent tax on tea! writes Freedman, who then explains the colonies' relationship to England, the reasons for colonists' discontent, and how the vision of freedom as a right evolved from English law and the oppression that brought the colonists to America. Using excerpts from newspapers, snatches of contemporary verse and letters, and an array of images, Freedman acquaints readers with Patrick Henry and Paul Revere, the first deaths at Lexington and Concord, Thomas Paine's Common Sense, and finally, the Continental Congress and the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Along the way, he frankly delineates the place of women, indentured servants, and African American slaves and freedmen, and explains their roles in the revolution. His account clearly shows what was at risk and the way the words of the Declaration have endured over time. The complete text of the Declaration and information on how to view the original document conclude a rich history.

Horn Book

Using the declamation by Patrick Henry as his title and theme, Freedman weaves a tapestry that combines political observations, character interpretations, and popular sentiments in an accessible, appealing style. Handsomely designed with a generous and thoughtful selection of period art, the book is dramatic and inspiring. Bib., ind.

Kirkus Reviews

If Freedman wrote the history textbooks, we would have many more historians. Beginning with an engrossing description of the Boston Tea Party in 1773, he brings the reader the lives of the American colonists and the events leading up to the break with England. The narrative approach to history reads like a good story, yet Freedman tucks in the data that give depth to it. The inclusion of all the people who lived during those times and the roles they played, whether small or large are acknowledged with dignity. The story moves backwards from the Boston Tea Party to the beginning of the European settlement of what they called the New World, and then proceeds chronologically to the signing of the Declaration. "Your Rights and Mine" traces the influence of the document from its inception to the present ending with Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. The full text of the Declaration and a reproduction of the original are included. A chronology of events and an index are helpful to the young researcher. Another interesting feature is "Visiting the Declaration of Independence." It contains a short review of what happened to the document in the years after it was written, a useful Web site, and a description of how it is displayed and protected today at the National Archives building in Washington, D.C. Illustrations from the period add interest and detail. An excellent addition to the American history collection and an engrossing read. (Nonfiction. 9-13)

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Known for his stellar biographies and superb nonfiction, Freedman now offers a fine book about the creation of one of the nation's most important historical documents. The first five chapters vividly bring to life the events that led to Colonial uprising and revolt. The next three chapters describe the Second Continental Congress, formation of the Continental Army, Battle of Bunker Hill, and drafting of the Declaration by Thomas Jefferson. The final chapter discusses the impact of the famous document at the time it was written and its continuing importance, and offers practical information about its preservation, storage, and display. The author points out the important roles women, slaves, and free blacks played in the Revolution, but is also careful to note the restrictions placed on these groups by the white male majority. Quotations from journals, essays, speeches, letters, and songs of the day add color to the compelling narration. Many bold reproductions, in color and black and white, supplement the text. A must for every collection.-Leah J. Sparks, Bowie Public Library, MD Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.