John Henry: The Making of a Myth

by Samantha Bell

Overview

Do you know the story of John Henry? What does the historical record show? The history stories you think you know may not be what they seem. Find out how and why myths took the place of fact over time, and the fascinating history the myths may hide. Explore primary sources and learn the ins and outs of unraveling myths to find the facts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781668927632
Publisher:	Cherry Lake Publishing
Publication date:	08/01/2023
Series:	21st Century Skills Library: How Fact Became Fiction
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.15(w) x 9.28(h) x 0.32(d)
Lexile:	730L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 10 Years

About the Author

Samantha Bell was born and raised near Orlando, Florida. She grew up in a family of eight kids and all kinds of pets, including goats, chickens, cats, dogs, rabbits, horses, parakeets, hamsters, guinea pigs, a monkey, a raccoon, and a coatimundi. She now lives with her family in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she enjoys hiking, painting, and snuggling with their cats Pocket, Pebble, and Mr. Tree-Tree Triggers.

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2023

Gr 3—6–American history is full of legendary figures and events, but are the stories we've heard all true? This series traces how the facts surrounding figures and events tied to American history have changed over time. For instance, many students may have heard of John Henry's legendary contest with the steam powered drill. Author Bell read railroad records and other accounts of the time to trace the origins of this story. The same is done for each figure: Primary sources are compared to the popularized version of events in order to separate fact from fiction. Each book discusses why a particular part of history was retold in a specific way. Plentiful photos and illustrations support the text, as do image captions and sidebars on related topics. Activities encourage students to write their own ballad, pen a letter describing their feelings about a current event, and other projects to extend learning. VERDICT A great collection to stimulate critical thinking and historical analysis for middle grades.

School Library Journal