Thomas Jefferson: Letters from a Philadelphia Bookworm (Dear Mr. President) - Hardcover

Gr 5-7-In fictionalized letters between President Jefferson and 12-year-old Amelia Hornsby, events, personalities, and the essence of the early 1800s come alive. Amelia lives in Philadelphia with Doctor and Mrs. Benjamin Rush and begins a correspondence with the president about the Lewis and Clark expedition, the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, and the death of Jefferson's daughter. Well educated, the child takes an active and lively interest in the current events and political affairs that envelop Philadelphia and feels that it is her duty to express her opinions to the president. Well researched, the book has extensive photographs, maps, primary-source material, time lines, and a biographical profile of our third president. Armstrong has captured the man's personality, touching on his many interests, including botany, farming, engineering, and philosophy as well as his devotion to his family. Amelia is portrayed as a strong, intelligent girl who proves to be the perfect correspondent for the statesman. Children can explore the subjects further on the publisher's Web site or by checking out some of the books in the list for further reading.

Janet Gillen, Great Neck Public Library, NY

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