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Summary: Excellent History Lesson
Review: I'm taking it on faith that, like other reviewers have said, Shaara's books are well-researched and historically accurate. I don't know because I'm not a historian. However, if that is true, then what a great way to learn about our nation's history! Like his (and his father's) other novels about the Civil War, I gained a much greater understanding of the events that led up to the Revolutionary War and the major players involved. When books like this are written, it makes reading and learning about our history more enjoyable and, therefore, gives us the motivation to actually read about it. This should be standard reading in schools across the country. I finished this book yesterday and am heading back to the bookstore today to get the sequel -- The Glorious Cause. Although I already know how it ends (we won!), I can't wait to read about how it happened.
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Summary: Definetly a book you'd want to buy!
Review: I love historical fiction and this is one of the best! The second one "the Glorious Cause" is also great!
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Summary: The History I never learned
Review: If history were presented to me this way in school, I would have actually paid attention and learned something of value. At an airport, I happened to purchase The Glorious Cause (which is the 2nd book in this series). I loved the first 50 pages so much that I decided I should start from the beginning of the series rather than go any further. Rise To Rebellion was a fascinating read from beginning to end. I had trouble putting it down and lost some sleep each night so that I could read another chapter. Some reviews here have said that the book is slow and I have to disagree. I think these people wanted more action/battles/war strategy which will probably be found more in the second book. There is action, but this book covers the events that led up to declaring independence prior to the actual war. After reading this book, I learned much about the Boston Tea Party, Boston Masacre, the Son's of Liberty, Paul Revere's ride, the battle of Concord, Lexington, and Breeds Hill. Not to mention, learning much more about the founding fathers, their ideals, and the passion behind their cause. Now I am inspired to reread text books covering this time period of American History (after I read The Glorious Cause of course).
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Summary: Forget the controversy, this book rocks.....
Review: I love Shaara's works. Being interested in history, I find all of his works to be researched well enough, and generally extremely entertaining. There are many who criticize his characterization as inaacurate but obviously the events in his novel are correct and that is good enough for me. You have to go into his books with the mindset that they are historical fiction and he always includes a disclaimer about his characterizations. His method of research is meticulous and it shows in every aspect of the book. The locations, the setting and even the whether is accurate. Bottom Line: If you like longer than average books and the subject interests you, you have to try this out. Shaara also has a trilogy about the Civil War but Rise to Rebellion is where you should start.
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Summary: Great Historical Fiction
Review: Jeff Shaara kept me very much interested in this work, even though it is not the typical war book like his others (it is more the thoughts and events leading up to the revolutionary war). I loved getting inside of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and the like. Shaara researches his work well, so it is as if you are studying history while you read a story.
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Summary: Historical fiction at its best
Review: I am becoming more of a Jeff Shaara fan after every book of his I read. This book is no exception. This book does a good job of shedding some light on the events leading up to the American Revolution. The best part of the book is the fact that it points out important men whose names have long been forgotten. Shaara does a really good job in his reaearch and it makes his books that much better. Great edition to anyone's library.
Rating:
Summary: Well rounded book
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I am starting to become more of a Jeff Shara fan this book solidified it. In his other books much of the action is centered around battles, that is not the case in this book. Much of the action is centered around the behind the scenes stories that led to the battles. I was very impressed with that aspect of it. Anyone who is even slightly intrested in how the the revolution came about will be hooked from page one. Highly reccomend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Elementary historical mistakes; one-sided scenes
Review: Now, I know historical fiction is still fiction, but there were some elementary mistakes in this book. The one that sticks out in my mind is where Paul Revere crosses the bay and turns to see how many lanterns appear in the steeple of Christ's Church in Boston - didn't happen that way, unless you read Longfellow - and any history book would tell that. The battle in Lexington was not very close to accurate, and it would have helped to see the events from more than one side. Most witnesses say that the first shot was fired from a pistol over by the meetinghouse on the green (coincidentally where a hot-headed British officer I've studied happened to be) and not from one of the buildings in the town. The battles are dealt with only from one side or the other, and the book gives no real sense of why things happened the way they did. The author makes some judgements about historical people that perhaps were not fair or don't exactly reflect real-life. The Battle Road fight was stark and from the English perspective and didn't do justice to the actual events, and in fact doesn't give the reader any impression of exactly how terrible it really was. Bunker Hill was better, but still sparse and could have used more of an overview. The interactions between the characters started to get kinda cheesy toward the end. Still, I've been on sentry duty before, and his description in the first chapter of what the sentry in Boston was feeling and experiencing was the best I've ever read - very well described and recorded.
If you know a lot about this subject, read with a grain of salt; if you don't know a lot about this subject, I would still read it as a starting point, but I would also read "Lexington and Concord" by Arthur Bernon Tourtellot. It's a history book, but gives you the straight dirt.
Rating:
Summary: GOOD, BUT NOT MEMORABLE
Review: Books on CD never seem to measure up; the narration is too slow, too fast, or the narrative is too confusing to follow. I'm pleased to say that this is neither, Vic Garber does a very commendable job and his accents are consistent without being over the top. This is the story that leads up to the Revolutionary War and blends multiple plots and characters slowing bringing them together (a la Stephen King) - bad comparison, but it's the best I got. My chief complaint is that it seemed very very generic - almost grade school in its dialog. Not Fresh with insight, but more like a review.
Bottom Line: There are those that swear by books on tape, and then there are those, like me, who use them to pass the time during the daily commute. This is interesting enough to keep you coming back, but ultimately unmemorable.
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Summary: The perfect book for learning about the American Revolution
Review: Rise to Rebellion is a historical fiction novel about the American Revolution written by Jeff Shaara. Shaara has written other historical fiction novels on historical genres such as the Civil War. The book is written uniquely when compared to other novels. A brief biography of the characters are given before the exposition of the story, and ending, since the story does not complete until the next book. Any historical events in the book may be common knowledge to some readers, but Shaara goes into great detail in explaining these events through the characters' insights. Rise to Rebellion appeals to readers who know and don't know about the American Revolution. Another unique feature of the book features no true antagonist. Each character's actions are portrayed like a protagonist's. Shaara makes the British (the supposive antagonist to a reader when he or she first reads this book) look as if their actions are for their own cause. Rise to Rebellion looks into the lives on many characters during the revolution, such as General Thomas Gage of Britain, John Adams, Ben Franklin, and George Washington. Other minor characters are King George III, John Hancock, and common soilders. The story starts with a common British solider
stationed in Boston. His unit gets harassed by American colonists. The British then fire on the crowd, which gets the commander of the colonists tried in court. John Adams volunteers to defend the general in court, and succeeds. The story progresses through events such as the battles of Lexington and Concord, the First and Second Continental Congress and concluding with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Each event in the story is translated from cold hard facts to an event with drama and action. The conclusion of this story takes place in the second book. As fantastic as this book can be to read, there are some aspects that can irritate readers. Shaara can run away at times describing certain scenes. Whendescribing the Battle of Bunker Hill, the battle itself would have been enough to keep the reader's attention. However, Shaara goes into great detail of explainingthe character's thoughts rather than describing the action. Throughout the story,the story seems stuck since Shaara describes scenes and characters in greatdetail. Despite these holdups, even the most impaitent readers can enjoy the book. Rise to Rebellion is an enjoyable book for all types of readers. The book vreates a vivid image into readers' minds, about the events of the American Revolution.
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