Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word by Sarah Jane Marsh - ADVISABLE

Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word by Sarah Jane Marsh, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham, 80 pages.  NON-FICTION/PICTURE BOOK  Disney Hyperion, 2018. $20.  9781484781449  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3); EL; MS; HS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Thomas Paine grew up in England and while at school he loved words and the idea of sailing the sea.  Paine’s father, however, had different plans for Thomas and pulled him out of school at the age of twelve to help with the family corset business.  As soon as Thomas was old enough he spent a short time at sea and realized his true love was learning.  After many years of poverty and lack of success, Paine decided to go to America where he started writing compelling literary pieces for the newspaper regarding revolution and slavery.  Eventually some believe that Paine’s writings encouraged the United States to join the war.  Paine went on to write other things and influence other countries in his lifetime.  

I totally enjoyed this biography about Paine and wish I was teaching history, so I could use this in my classroom.  Although the format is a children’s picture book, it is longer than most picture books and the information would be useful in classrooms of all ages.  I loved the illustrations and felt like they made the story more interesting.  My only annoyance is the title because the book is about so much more than just the dangerous word of revolution.  

C. Peterson