If you're looking for a young reader's book that will fire up their interest for the early American frontiers as well as provide some helpful education, you can't go wrong with this book.
In a general way, I've known of the famous frontiersman, Simon Kenton, since I was myself fairly young. In this book, Karen Meyer writes a biography of Kenton for elementary age children that is easy for them to access, while providing some factual information that might "fill in the gaps" for them. In the process, she tells them about Kentucky, Native Americans, European conflicts fought on North American soil, and some of the famous American, British, and Native heroes. She treats Simon Kenton's relationship with Simon Girty, who was called a renegade, with respect, but doesn't sugar-coat the issues that led to his troubles. Her treatment of Native Americans is not disrespectful, though her perspective is one that favors the American frontiersmen and women. She even includes Kenton's religious conversion at one of the camp meetings that were popular on the frontier during what is called the "Second Great Awakening."
It's not a work of fiction, but rather a genuine biography written at grade-school level. Meyer begins by recounting Kenton's early days as "Simon Butler," following his having run away at the age of 16 after believing he had killed someone in a fight. The story progresses chronologically, with a few aside that look into the future, all the way through the conflicts with the native peoples that were being displaced by all the settlers, up to Simon Kenton's moves further west, his problems with land titles, and ultimately, his death. Even though the book is written for children, Meyer doesn't pull too many punches regarding the violence, hardships, and dangers of life in Kentucky and the Ohio country.
Along with the text, the book has occasional and very helpful maps, a few pictures, and at the end, a glossary of what might be new words, a timeline, a bibliography, end notes, and information on the artwork she used. At the end of each short chapter, she asks questions for young readers to consider, as well.
At 100 pages plus the additional material at the end, it's a very quick read for an adult, and a very good one for children who want to dig a bit more into our early American history.
Reviewed in the SEPT/OCT 2018 issue of MUZZLELOADER Magazine
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