Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating Look at the Genesis of Revolution
Review: 2001 was a good year for John Adams and his fans. The most thoughtful and prolific of the Founders finally got his due with McCollough's bio, and the gets a great fictional burst from the new master of early American histroical fiction, Jeff Shaara. Adams is easily the center that holds this portrait of America before the Revolution together.Shaara's book tells the tale of the American Colonies' decision to part from England. Shaara picks the so-called "Boston Massacre" to introduce us to the story and goes from there. Shaara has always had the likable style of getting into his protaganists heads by doing great research and writing as he thinks they thought. Here, he picks Adams, Ben Franklin, George Washington, and British General Gage through which to tell the story of the beginning of the American Revolution. All the characters are fully developed, and Shaara wisely chooses not to make the British General a "bad guy", instead making him human, loyal to king and country. Starting with the Boston Massacre, we first get a look into the mind of John Adams. A Boston lawyer at the time the novel begins, Adams takes up the case of the British captain accused of ordering his troops to fire on unarmed civilians. He takes the case with some reservations, but pursues it vigorously as he is convinced that a)the captain is innocent, and b)that the British should be shown that the American Colonies can hand down just verdicts on even the most inflammatory cases. Adams wins the case, and while his taking the case angers his Cousin Sam Adams, John's profound belief that the colonies can govern themselves earns him Sam's respect, and he is drawn into Sam's "Son's of Liberty", a pro-independence group that meets in Boston. Ben Franklin is another standout in the book, a man who loved life and loved the English, he is shown here as the legislative representative to England from several colonies who loves living the British way of life, but also loves his homeland. His reputation will always procede him in any novel featuring him, but Shaara shows us the more personal Franklin, and in doing so make shim more interesting. As time goes on, the British become harsher landlords to the Colonists, and John Adams eventually sees that reason alone cannot pursuade the King to let up his grip. Franklin leaves England dismayed, and everyone ends up in Philidephia, for the First and Second Continental Congresses. What happens there is known to any student of history, so Shaara goes deeper, exploring the convictions and differences of the delegates in a thoughtful, dignified way. He finds humor here and there, and when the book is done, the reader cannot wait to read "The Glorious Cause", the conclusion to this two-volume work. Shaara has a sparse prose, never using too many words, but finding the right tone nonetheless. Even if you are unfamiliar with it, after about 10 pages or so, you get used to it. This book is a great read, and, while fiction, provides a nice little detour into some of the lesser known facets of early American history. A fine novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Shaara has done it again
Review: You can't go wrong when you have read a book by Jeff Shaara. To clear up any confusion, this is historical fiction. It's impossibe to delve into the minds of people of the past and know for sure what they were thinking or what they would have said at all times, so everything we read in this book relating to the thoughts of a person or the dialogue between characters is not necessarily factual. Shaara brilliantly brings to life some of the major players of the early stages of the American Revolution like John and Sam Adams, Ben Franklin and British General Thomas Gage; other figures are also discussed. The events covered are from the Boston Massacre in 1770 to the drafting and reading of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This is the kind of book that is hard to put down. Very few writers can bring history to life like Jeff Shaara and cause people to realize that history does matter and that history is more than just names and dates. Shaara has the ability to bring these people and events to life. These were unusual men and women in unusual times that helped shape a nation that has endured for over 220 years. They were not divine beings without faults, just humans who were given extrordinary abilities to help change the course of history.
Rating:
Summary: rise to rebellion review
Review: This book was a good book for people over at least 13 because of the more complicated. Good for someone over 13. This book tought me alot about the rebellion. I cant rember what rebellion. I like this book alot I will try to read it as much as I can. Rise to Rebellion is an educational like book only because it teaches u about more than one rebellion. The book was great. Joey (the maine charector) was the person whom wanted to defend his contry more then his allies or partners. I gave this book its rating only because it tought me about the rebellion.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: This was the first book of this kind that I have ever read. As a big history buff and lover of the American Revolution, I found this an excellent read. The only times that I have ever seen historical figures in actual scenes were in historical fiction books. Although historical fiction, this book was based on real people in real events. I loved it. Although some parts were a bit slow, it truly is a remarkable accomplishment of Shaara. He has outdone any author. It was really amazing to be able to look into the minds of some of the most important people in history. It could be a a text book or a great movie. I can't wait to read the sequel. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: almost unreadable at times
Review: As they said in Publishers Weekly's reviews: he has an 'ever-growing level of literary competence'. It still needs to grow. I really had to plod through this one, and it was a painful experience most of the way. a case of the research continuously showing and getting in the way of a fiction reader's enjoyment. Most history books are more entertaining than this.
Still, for people interested in this period, they should try it.
Rating:
Summary: Different true, but still good
Review: With this book Jeff Shaara follows the grand tradition that his father started with "The Killer Angles". Primarily the book follows Ben Franklin, John Adams, Sam Adams, General Gage and Gerorge Washintion. I love these kind of books because a good author (Shaara) can make the history seem as real as possible. My impression-I just love this book and its sequal "This Glorious" cause and if you liked "The Killer Angles" or "The Last Full Measure" you will like the book too
Rating:
Summary: A delight for history lovers
Review: Jeff Shaara is truly blessed to be able to bring history to life as he has done in Rise to Rebellion. This account of the early days of the Revolutionary War is done in the same vein as his work on the Civil War. He takes the historical characters involved (John Adams, George Washington, Ben Franklin and others) and breathes life into them. Perhaps we'll never know what their actual conversations were like but Shaara's book is as close as we'll ever come. This is a marveleous way to study history. It reads like a novel yet is rich in historical fact. If you love history, especially American history, you'll want this book for your library.
Rating:
Summary: Another Shaara Masterpiece
Review: When "Rise To Rebellion" was released last year, it was advertised as part 1 of a 2 part novel of the American Revolution. I decided to wait for part 2 to be published and then I would read them one after the other. I've just finished part 1 and consider it an extraordinarily interesting and well-written volume. Shaara's style is, as in his Civil War works, to follow key participants in a very personal way, making use of fictional dialogue. Fictional, but quite believable. I found this book far more entertaining than the best-selling "John Adams" biography. Shaara covers all the famous pre-1776 events--the Boston Tea Party, Bunker Hill, Paul Revere's ride, Lexington and Concord--in a fluid manner that places each event into the overall framework of the Revolution. This book concludes with the signing of the Declaration of Independence (what was the only colony not to vote yes at the initial vote?) and I can't wait to get going on part 2, "The Glorious Cause".
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable but...lacking
Review: A good basic overview of events leading to the Revolutionary War from both sides of the Atlantic. Particularly unique had been Benjamin Franklin's presence in England as the situation in America and England ignited, bringing a fresh perspective as we follow his point of view and his exposure to parliamentary arrogance.Unfortunately, all others characters did not appear to me to have been as well-developed and never quite came to life, nor did the times they lived in. Franklin's character alone keeps the first half of the book alive, until the war begins, then Shaara's narrative picks up. Some of the battle seens are truly descriptive and moving. As history it's a great read; but for history, great characterization and narrative style, I have to recommend Citizen Washington by William Martin.
Rating:
Summary: Enthralling Book
Review: This book was very enjoyable reading. I couldn't put it down. It describes events in American History leading up to the American Revolution and makes you feel like you are there. You are there with John Adams and the Sons of Liberty. You are there at Lexington and Concord. It is told from the viewpoint of John Adams, General Gage, Ben Franklin and others. It is written in a way that you can sense the characters' feelings. The book ends in the Summer of 1776. I am looking forward to reading the sequel of this two-volume story, The Glorious Cause.
| 
