lagobond's review against another edition
3.0
I really love the concept of this book: items pulled from a time capsule to illuminate a period in history. The artifacts are described vividly, so readers can really imagine what it would feel like to hold one of them in heir hands. The book has plenty of variety, with engaging pictures and text boxes.
So why only 3 stars? Because there's a very strong white bias in the book, which bothers me. Example: "The Native people who once lived freely throughout the area found themselves with just a small reservation to call their own." Oh okay, they just "found themselves" having lost the land that sustained them. Nobody's fault, really. The whole affair is presented as though the Powhatan were equal opponents to the English, which is of course a ridiculous notion. The English settlers are also described as "brave," which, while true, is the kind of glorifying language that has no place in a good history book. Too bad, because I wanted to love this book, but it leaves me with a bitter aftertaste.
So why only 3 stars? Because there's a very strong white bias in the book, which bothers me. Example: "The Native people who once lived freely throughout the area found themselves with just a small reservation to call their own." Oh okay, they just "found themselves" having lost the land that sustained them. Nobody's fault, really. The whole affair is presented as though the Powhatan were equal opponents to the English, which is of course a ridiculous notion. The English settlers are also described as "brave," which, while true, is the kind of glorifying language that has no place in a good history book. Too bad, because I wanted to love this book, but it leaves me with a bitter aftertaste.
More...