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Becoming Ben Franklin: How A Candle-Maker's Son Helped Light The Flame Of Liberty (2013)

by Russell Freedman(Favorite Author)

3.98 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0823423743 (ISBN13: 9780823423743)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Holiday House

review 1: As a general introduction to Benjamin Franklin, his life, and accomplishments, this book is excellent. Freedman can always be relied upon for clear narration, well-chosen graphics, and plenty of white space so as not to overwhelm his readers. He is also good at infusing a little drama and style. We first meet Franklin as he arrives practically penniless on a Philadelphia wharf, a confident 17-year-old in search of a job. So begins the quite astonishing story of his life, though this is really less of a straight biography, since Freedman focuses on Franklin's deeds and tucks little life details in amongst these. Readers may think they know their Franklin, but there are some surprises here. He really was an interesting character and whether through luck, genius, or comm... moreon sense, was responsible for an awful lot of "firsts." Great reading. 5th grade and up.
review 2: This book chronicles the life of Ben Franklin, including testimony, artistic renderings, newspaper clippings, and painted portraits. His early endeavors and later important scientific discoveries, as well as his role in the emerging independent government is detailed in crafty prose. The book is dense with information and is well suited for upper middle grade students, probably 6th – 8th grade, and possibly high school students. This text is very informative and would be great to use selected passages to highlight important parts of Ben’s life to illustrate an important point in a text on science or social studies/American History. Overall, the art is not very inspiring and the text was hard to trudge straight through. less

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