A History of US (10 Vol. Set)

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Summary: Persuasion Takes Importance
Review: Storytelling, not history! Absent full factual accounts, the author guides the reader to share her interpretations of history. This series is a study in the author's personal philosphy and value systems.

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Summary: The History of US
Review: These are the most interesting books on American History that I have ever read. I hunted everywhere for history books that would be informative without being dry, and these fit the bill. The only negative things I can say about the books are the "politically correct--isms" found throughout the volumes, and the hurtful attack on Mormonism, brief though it was, it was unnecessary and unkind. Still, overall, these are great books and I only wish that she would write some World History books next!

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Summary: History of us
Review: This history book has to be one of the best for children. It makes history interesting. I use it as my childs text for homeschooling and he begs for his history lesson. With its questions along the way it makes the child think, which makes them retain the lesson.

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Summary: Positive, enthusiastic, history is made exciting.
Review: This is a history collection that points out real human failings as well as telling us how wonderful our country is, with the philosophy that if we learn now, we won't make the same mistakes later. I thought history was boring when I went to school. It's not here. Some schools actually use these for textbooks. I love what Volume 1 says on the cover: "This book begins in the Ice Age with some people who hiked and canoed from Asia to a New Land and, thousands of years later, got called Indians by Christopher Columbus, who didn't know where he was." Now that is an honest look at American history!! I would recommend it for an 8 year old child, on up thru adult!!

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Summary: Outstanding series to bring OUR History into clear focus.
Review: This series is an outstanding collection of material that chronicles the history of the United States and Us. A History of US is a great textbook series that creates new standards for textbook publishers. Imagine a textbook that reads like a novel and rivets you to the action. This is it. Joy Hakim has shown us great insight into the makings of what we know as history, but presents it in a way that any student or parent will find completely captivating. I highly recommend this series.

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Summary: You'll Never hear them say "Yuck! History?!?!?"
Review: This year we're tackling American History in our home school. I was looking for material that was engaging, motivational and interesting. When I was introduced to Joy Hakim's The History of US by a local academy, I knew I'd found what I'd been looking for. I use it with three students grades 5 to 7 with great success. The chapters are short and focussed, and the graphics add so much to the interesting text. I would also recommend using the teachers' resources available thru Oxford: they provide chapter summaries, reviews discussion questions, and bibliographies, and activities for further exploration. My local library is now going to invest in this great series, too!

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Summary: Didactical propaganda, not accurate evaluation of history
Review: Unfortunately these books do engage young minds in historical events and periods. I say unfortunately because once these children read another book, article, or text about a particular subject they will be in for a shock. The definitions of terms throughout the books are downright wrong in some cases or simply used in the wrong context to support her ideas. She lets you know, in no uncertain terms, which movements, religions, and political parties are the "right ones" and the "wrong ones". There are rarely opposing veiwpoints on issues raised in the text so you get a very one-sided look at many important issues. She does cover a diverse range of topics throughout the series but does not give the reader the sense, or demonstrate herself, that there is more than one way to look at and interpret history which is a real shame. If you use these books to teach history to your children or to a classroom, please do not let them be your only reference. There are many more books out there that do a much better job at conveying history and teaching students how to think about and evaluate history.

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Summary: Pretty good
Review: Written in a format that appeals to any reader, as in, a conversational tone, defintely improves their readability. The layout of pictures, photos, titbits of information, etc. prevent the child from groaning at yet more blocks of text at each turn of the page.
The author is fairly opinionated, making bold statements that could cause the reader to think her word is final on any given subject in the books.
I'd still recommend them for middle grades. At that age, anything that stimulates some sort of interest in history is miraculous! Thankfully more factual, less opinionated history books are read in High school, even if they are as boring as heck.