"The War of Independence Way breathes new life into the story of the American Revolution. Pinaire translates his clear command of this history into a retelling that is as lucid and thorough as it is enlightening and entertaining. Set in contemporary times, The War of Independence Way takes young readers through the entirety of the struggle for independence within an urban landscape that is filled with refreshingly youthful characters who reflect and respect the inclusive ideals of Pinaire's audience. Pinaire's vivacious account is superbly detailed. Readers will cheerfully discover all of the necessary players and events to comprehend this formative chapter in American history while being gracefully spared the tedium of differentiating between the oft-indistinguishable, colorless names and dates of textbooks past. Here, Pinaire's history is fun, engaging, and memorable. This is an invigorating story for history students and seasoned veterans alike."
-Wag Harrison, author of
The Presidents Did What? and
The Presidents Did What, Again?
"From battles to Taco Bell, The War of Independence Way has all the things my kids love best-action, tacos, and relatable kids. It also has the things I love best as a mom and political scientist-meaningful stories to share with my children about history, politics, and the struggles for democracy. Brian Pinaire's book has prompted us to look up more details about the real history, and it's a maybe not-so-secret joy of parenting to revisit things I first learned about as a kid in school, except in a much more fun way and in discussion with my own kids. It makes those thirty minutes before bedtime feel like a two-fer!"
-Jennifer Schenk Sacco, professor of political science
"A story of a group of neighborhood kids rallying together to defeat a bully, The War of Independence Way brings to life the characters, events, and, most importantly, values of the American Revolution. At a time when young people have every reason to be discouraged about our democracy, this book is highly recommended and urgently needed."
-Derek W. M. Barker, program officer, Kettering Foundation
