Annotated Bibliography
Brands, H.W. Andrew Jackson His Life and Times. New York: Anchor Books, 2005.
This comprehensive biography starts with Andrew Jackson's very early childhood until his death. At about 800 pages it is a serious read from a well-regarded historian. It is nice for teachers in that Brands takes time to dig into some of the things our kids are to know about Jackson like the removal of the Cherokee and the notorious bank war. It would not be necessary to read the entire book to get some fruitful stories for one's class.
Caro,Robert A. The Years of Lyndon Johnson The Path to Power. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1982. This is the first volume in what will soon be a four-part biography of Johnson. Caro has been considered the Johnson historian for some time but one note of caution: Caro really seems to despise Johnson and every story he tells carries the taint of this disposition. It is very long and terribly involved. He provides us with amazing stories to tell but you have to seriously commit yourself if you want to get through this book.
David Kennedy and Lizabeth Cohen and Thomas Bailey. The American Pageant. 13th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. This is an Advanced Placement textbook known to be one of the first developed specifically for the advanced placement high school curriculum. It has long been thought of as the text most closely aligned with the expectations of the College Board test.
Lee, Hermione. Biography: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. If teachers are thinking about teaching this unit I would say that this is a must read. It is likely that I will ask all of my students to buy this prior to beginning the construction of our MBEs. It is short, smart, and incredibly readable. It gives teachers and students a lot to think about as they begin to think about studying and writing in biography and history.
Philbrick, Nathaniel. Mayflower A Voyage to War. London: Harper Collins, 2006. This is a great book for students and teachers. It is a quick and easy read that trails the pilgrims from their difficulties in Holland to the new world and through King Phillip's War. It is the kind of book teachers could assign to students without any worry. Also, this book is a nice source for teachers looking for those attention-grabbing stories to use in the classroom.
Comments: