The first son to follow his father to the White House
Rating:
5 / 5
Gerry and Janet Souter's juvenile biography of "John Quincy Adams: Our Sixth President" is an excellent book for young students to find first person to follow their own father to the Presidency. If there is any chance for a renaissance of interest in the life and career of John Quincy Adams, then it is during the Presidency of George W. Bush that is might actually happen. This book offers four chapters on Adams's life: In His Father's Footsteps, A Career in Politics, The Bitter Presidency, and Duty to the End. It is important that the four years Adams spent in the White House are probably the least significant of his career. Young readers will learn about how Adams spent his early career in the diplomatic service, all because he learned to speak French when he was 10 years old and serving as his father's secretary when John Adams was sent to French to ask for help during the American Revolution. Eventually John Quincy Adams because Secretary of State, which led to him becoming President in a disputed election (sound familiar?) that was thrown into the House of Representatives. It was as a Congressman, known as "Old Man Eloquent" for his speeches attacking slavery, that Adams proved there was a life of public service after the Presidency.This book focuses on providing basic information about the second Adams to be President, with "Interesting Facts" about his life and times added to the margins. Each chapter has a page devoted to details about his life: sailing on the "Boston" to France, his wife Louisa, his troubled family with regards to his sons, and the "Amistad" affair. There are a couple dozen illustrations in the book, all of which are in color. The back of this volume includes a time line of John Quincy Adams's life, a glossary of three dozen words, information on all of the Presidents form Washington to Bush, Presidential facts, and internet sites and books for finding further information. Older students or those looking for more detailed information about Adams in a juvenile biography should turn next to Zachary Kent's biography in the Encyclopedia of Presidents series. The "Our Presidents" books are part of the "Spirit of America" series, which focuses on the American experience in terms of history, culture, and politics.
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