  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 09/01/2010 *Starred Review* When the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, Henry Knox was a portly young bookseller who avidly read books on military science and discussed them with the British officers who frequented his Boston shop. He would soon put his theoretical knowledge to practical use, for he was placed in charge of the Continental Army’s artillery. Finding little artillery on hand, Knox led an arduous trek to transport cannons and ammunition 300 miles across frozen lakes and snowy mountains to the hills overlooking Boston. The British occupation of the city quickly ended. The first half of this fully illustrated book deftly portrays Knox as a likable, optimistic youth, while the second half shows him as a determined 25-year-old officer leading the expedition that freed Boston in 1776. Quotes from period sources underscore the difficulties of the journey, while Silvey’s measured text ably tells the tale and puts events in their historical context. Painted on wooden panels, Minor’s acrylic art creates a vivid sense of the period in varied scenes crafted with a fine grasp of composition, texture, and color. A chronology, source notes, bibliography, and suggested reading list conclude this handsome book, which spotlights one of the lesser-known heroes of the American Revolution. - Copyright 2010 Booklist. School Library Journal - 12/01/2010 Gr 3–6—This is a beautifully illustrated introduction to a lesser-known Revolutionary War figure. As a child, Knox worked in a bookstore where he read about engineering and military history and became fascinated by machinery. He went on to open his own bookstore and specialized in works on military science. After fleeing Boston due to the intensifying conflict with British soldiers, he soon joined the Continental Army. He was then named head of artillery, though the army's only artillery was 300 miles away at Fort Ticonderoga. Silvey emphasizes Knox's obstinacy in the face of challenges. It was this spirit, she argues, that spurred him to oversee transport of 12,000 pounds of artillery over frozen mountains and lakes to General Washington in Boston. The narrative ends with his success. Further details on the war and on Knox's life are provided in a time line. Silvey's account is admiring but unornamented, and history buffs and future engineers especially will find some inspiration here beyond the biography report. Minor brings the arduous journey to life through vivid paintings of the Colonial figures and unforgiving landscape. Many are presented in striking spreads. Richard M. Strum's biography (OTTN, 2007) is highly readable and more comprehensive, but Minor's engaging paintings of a memorable incident will make a nice supplement to Revolutionary War units.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI - Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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