Text Set:

Eleventh
Grade History
Virginia Standard of Learning: Virginia and U.S.
History
Revolution and the New Nation VUS.4

The student will apply social science skills to understand the issues and events leading to and during the
Revolutionary Period by

a) describing the results of the French and Indian War;

b) evaluating how political ideas of the Enlightenment helped shape American politics;

c) explaining how conflicting loyalties created political differences among the colonists concerning separation
from Great Britain;

d) analyzing the competing factors that led to colonial victory in the Revolutionary War; and

e) evaluating how key principles in the Declaration of Independence grew in importance to become unifying
ideas of American political philosophy.
The French and Indian War by Andrew Santella (Book)

Flesch Reading Ease score: 52.4

Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 11.4

This book provides the history of the French and Indian War by
explaining the strategies and the desires of the French and British. It tells
in a simple to understand, yet detailed account of the ways the French
and British went about interacting with the Native Americans. It also
gives details of the main battles of the war such as that of the Forks of
the Ohio.

This book got a score for that of 11th graders yet it is very easy to read
and understand and could be used for lower grade levels. The French
and Indian War is discussed in classes that focus on U.S. history and this
book or chapters of it could be incorporated into these lessons.
The Day the American Revolution Began April 19,
1775 by William H. Hallahan (Book)
Flesch Reading Ease score: 45.6

Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 9.2

This book gives a very descriptive account of the first day of the Revolutionary
War in the major cities of the American colonies. The book paints a picture of
the setting of the cities before and during the battles. It also gives biographies
of important players of the battles that are usually unheard of such as Dr.
Joseph Warren.

This book is fairly small but almost 300 pages so it would be difficult to assign
to younger audiences. However, the information is explained very eloquently
and in a way that helps put the reader in the setting which could make it
effective for lower high school or upper middle school classes.
America at War: Revolutionary War by Benton Minks
and Louise Minks (Book)
Flesch Reading Ease score: 61.4

Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 8.7

This book examines the Revolutionary War from the first battle to the end of the war. It
gives good descriptions of important historical incidents such as the Stamp Act, Paul
Revere, and the Boston Tea Party as well as many more. It also has the occasional
photo or map to help explain the people and the scenes of the events.

This book is perfect for a high school class, especially upper level such as eleventh
grade. The words are not very difficult to understand and it reads like a story. The
pictures are also very helpful and keeps the book from being to dull as well as provides
visual tools to help learners.
The Declaration of Independence: The Words that
Made America by Sam Fink (Picture book)
Flesch Reading Ease score: 47.8

Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 10.4

This is a very colorful picture book that explains the words of the Declaration of
Independence by using the direct words paired with cartoons that say in simplified
words what it means. Each page has at most 20 words next to a picture on the
accompanying side.

This book got a grade for 10th graders but it could easily be used for as low as 6th
grade. By using the direct words of the Declaration of Independence, it helps
explain the ideas that the Founders got from Enlightenment Thinkers by using the
direct words the Founders wrote.
The Founders: The 39 Stories Behind the U.S.
Constitution by Dennis Brindell Fradin (Book)
Flesch Reading Ease scale: 47.2

Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 9.6

This book explains the lives and motives of the Founding Fathers, most of
them outside of the main founders people are used to hearing about. It gives
an artist's rendition of what the individual might look like and even has quotes
that help show the motives of each person.

This book is not too difficult to read but I would not assign it to anyone under
8th grade or else many of the ideas will get lost on the students. This book
helps explain many people who were forgotten in popular American history,
yet had a pivotal role in the framing of the Constitution
The Split History of the American Revolution by
Michael Burgan (Book)
Flesch Reading Ease score 60.2

Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 8.9

This book takes a look at the American Revolutionary War by splitting the war into two
stories; the Patriot side and the British side. Often times, the British side of the war of
Independence is often left out which gives a one sided story of the event. This book
provides justification for the British actions in a way that is legible to students.

This book could be suitable for children as young as seventh grade, yet in order to gain
the real value of the book, which is the different perspectives, one should be fairly
familiar with the Revolutionary war so it would be more appropriate for a high school
setting.
The American Revolutionaries: A History in their own
words 1750-1800 by Milton Meltzer (Book)
Flesch Reading Ease Score: 2.5

Flesch Kincaid Grade Level 30.5

This book is filled with primary sources from various members of society who
kept notes or journals from the time of the Revolutionary war. It is filled with
descriptive, and sometimes disturbing accounts of what life was like for people
from indentured servants on the lower class of a ship to surgeons in the field
operating on soldiers. It is a tool to build empathy with the men and women of
the time period.

Even though this book got an extremely high grade level score, I do not feel it is
too hard for high school students to understand. There are some old timey words
like “thou” in some chapters but overall it reads pretty simply and the quality of
the information is astonishing.
“Tea, Taxes, and the American Revolution: Crash
Course World History #28” by John Green (Video)
Flesch Reading Ease score: 20.6

Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 23.3

This is a video that explains briefly the story of the American

Revolution through a narrator and cartoons. It explains the reasons
why the Americans wanted a call for revolution but it looks at it
through a world history view as to not be too biased towards the
American perspective.

This reading scale does not match the education level required to
understand this video. It is simple to understand and can be used as
young as 6th or 7th grade. John Green is very good at staying on point
and making the information entertaining to watch.
The Real Benedict Arnold by Jim Murphy (Book)
Flesch Reading Ease score: 34.8

Flesch Kincaid Grade Level: 16.1

This book tells of the most famous traitor in American History, Benedict
Arnold. Here, it highlights the differences in ideas about the American
Revolution by the colonists who either supported the Patriots or the British
Crown. Not only does it give a biography of Benedict Arnold, but it also
highlights the dilemmas of ordinary citizens who might have to fight against
their own neighbor.

This book is suitable for a high school setting and is not very difficult to
read. It helps students understand that there was not an overwhelming call
for Independence by all of the colonists and by using Benedict Arnold as an
example, it shows the inner conflict of some colonists.
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (YA Novel)
Flesch Reading Ease scale: 84.5

Flesch Kincaid Grade Level 4.9

This book tells of a young silversmith who gets caught up in the Revolutionary War.
This is a book of fiction but it paints the story of fighting in the war as a young man.
This book has won numerous awards and even though it was written in 1944, it still
holds up today.

This is one of the most popular young adult books about the Revolutionary War that
exists. It could be read by anyone as young as 5th or 6th grade to as old as high
school seniors. By making the story about a young man, it can speak to students
around the same age and brings them back to that time period.
Burgan, M. (2013). The split history of the American Revolution: a perspectives flip book. North Mankato, MN: Compass
……….Point Books, a capstone imprint.

Forbes, E., & Ward, L. (2011). Johnny Tremain. Bridgewater, NJ: Distributed by Paw Prints/Baker & Taylor.\

Fradin, D. B., & McCurdy, M. (2009). The founders: the 39 stories behind the U.S. Constitution. New York: Scholastic.

Green, J. (2012, August 02). Tea, Taxes, and The American Revolution: Crash Course World History #28. Retrieved
……….February 15, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlUiSBXQHCw&t=46s

Hallahan, W. H. (2001). The day the American Revolution began: 19 April 1775. New York: Perennial.

Jefferson, T., & Fink, S. (2002). The Declaration of Independence: the words that made America. New York, NY:
………Scholastic Reference.

Meltzer, M. (1993). The American revolutionaries: a history in their own words, 1750-1800. New York: HarperTrophy.

Minks, B., & Minks, L. (2010). America at War: Revolutionary war. New York, NY: Chelsea House.

Murphy, J. (2007). The Real Benedict Arnold. New York : Clarion Books.

Santella, A. (2012). The French and Indian War. New York: Childrens’ Press.