The Mexican-American War - (Living Through. . .) by John Diconsiglio (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book briefly examines the causes and impact of the Mexican-American War.

Book Synopsis

Why was the Mexican-American War so important in the formation of the modern United States? Could Texas have survived as an independent nation or part of Mexico? This book seeks to relate the overall events and chronology of the war and shows its impact on everyday lives.

Review Quotes

I'm always on the lookout for engaging books to use with my history curriculum. Sometimes it's hard to find a good book that's affordable, covers a topic with enough depth and yet isn't something a student has to "slog" through. Non-fiction can be especially challenging because I have fairly high standards. Each book has to be something Otter is going to connect to (unless there really isn't anything else to choose from and it's something I want to cover!). I recently was on the lookout for a book on the Mexican-American War - a conflict that still has some present day repercussions and one that I think is generally ignored in most history programs but shouldn't be! Living Through the Mexican-American War by John DiConsiglio does a great job of presenting this conflict as well as other related stories covering the years 1821-1849. The book itself is colorful and has a nice layout. There is a mix of maps, photos, illustrations and colored sidebars that bring some visual interest to the pages. I like the added touch of the "burnt/worn" edges look on each page. It's details like this that set this particular book above the rest I've looked at for this topic. Even though it's 80 pages long, Living Through the Mexican-American War is a fairly quick read that shouldn't take your students more than a day or two to finish. Or, if you prefer to use it as a read-aloud, you can easily get through it in a week. All throughout the book more difficult words and terms are presented in bold and defined via a glossary in the back. Here are a few examples: &&LI&&Whig Party &&/LI&& &&LI&&Manifest Destiny &&/LI&& &&LI&&sovereign &&/LI&& &&LI&&chaparral &&/LI&& &&LI&&fortified &&/LI&& &&LI&&adobe &&/LI&& &&LI&&guerrilla &&/LI&& &&LI&&dysentery &&/LI&& &&/UL&&If you like to combine assignments, it would be super-easy to pick out words your student isn't familiar with and assign them for vocabulary study. Based on the vocabulary and the writing style, I'd say this book targets the upper elementary to middle school age bracket, although I think it's perfectly appropriate for high schoolers as well. Even I learned a thing or two after reading it and it's written/presented in such a way that I think most students will retain most of it. There is also a small "Find Out More" section in the back with a list of books, websites and DVD's to explore, if interested. I feel the book does a good job at presenting both sides of the Mexican-American War. It gives you a great understanding of the circumstances surrounding it from various perspectives and not only gives an overview of incidents like the Battle of the Alamo but various sections cover some of the people involved and topics like weaponry and hardships. There is even a section about Sarah Borginnis "The Heroine of Fort Brown" so your girls don't have to feel too left out amidst all the battle-talk. The Mexican-American War happened because of a variety of factors and if affected different people in a variety of ways. Living Through the Mexican-American War doesn't shy away from these topics and yet covers them in an age-appropriate way. Portions of the book cover various interesting facts about things like yellow fever, deserters, Irish immigrants, the Donner Party and more. It's written in a way that shows your students how all of these different things were connected. I like that. Since there are no previews that I can find online, I've pasted an example of a small section below so you can get a feel for the writing style. After reading through the book I've decided it's a winner! I'm planning on including it in my Awesome Timeline History Schedule, which will be posted here in the next several months (hopefully!) on my website. It's an excellent resource that should help any student learn about this important part of our nation's history. Click here to take a look at it on Amazon. Guest Hollow Blog 3/31/2012-- "Guest Hollow Blog"

(4) YA Living Through series. This extremely detailed volume offers a balanced account of one of the most controversial wars in U.S. history. Motivations, military strategies, battles, and leaders on both sides are the focus. Also included are the reactions of those who opposed the war and discussion of Mexico's bitterness at defeat. Illustrations, photos, sidebars, and maps crowd the pages. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. - Cyrisse Jaffee The Horn Book Guide Fall 2012 issue-- "The Horn Book Guide"

STAR REVIEW! With a sharp focus on issues and historical context, this series serves both student researchers and general readers alike. Remarkable for their clarity of framing complex issues and historical events, titles are complimented by strong layouts and eye-catching graphics. Archival photos, maps, sidebars, brief first person accounts, biographical sketches, and charts are skillfully arranged to enhance the text. These slender volumes are unusual for presenting multiple perspectives on key concepts and explaining the effect of war on civilians. Of particular note is "What Have We Learned?" which helps students see historical implications. Teachers and librarians will find the bibliography of books, documentaries, websites, and list of related topics useful for further research, teaching ideas, and collection development. Highly Recommended.-- "Library Media Connection"

The Living Through series details the chronology and chief players in several major wars. In World War I, Barber explains the European political powder keg of the late 1800s and the turn of the last century before telling of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The conflict's origins are convoluted and messy, but Barber is able to provide a clear explanation. The Mexican-American War lays out a fascinating narrative of manifest destiny and western expansion. While the war was immensely popular with the American population, critics considered it the only war the United States has ever declared on a sovereign country with the idea of taking over their land. Students will be interested in the parallels between the immigration issues surrounding that war and the current debates about the same subject. Each book provides a "What Have We Learned" chapter which shows how the historical information affects current world diplomacy. The books provide overviews of the conflicts in a concise and easy-to-read format. Numerous sidebars and personal narratives add more content and will appeal to students. Many of the wars in the series are not covered in standard social studies curriculums, which may limit their use in the classroom; however, they are sure to be popular with fans of military history and would provide a strong source for reports or independent study.-- "VOYA"

This set summarizes events in major conflicts using brief first-person accounts, sidebars, short biographies, color and archival photos, maps, and other graphics. While most of these wars are independent of one another, some do cover overlapping time periods and therefore these titles do duplicate information. The authors' presentations of these conflicts are balanced, with views from multiple perspectives. They don't shy away from the more gruesome and shameful events, such as the Holocaust, the My Lai massacre, and Abu Ghraib. There is also some coverage of antiwar movements and the lives of noncombatants. It is refreshing to find some wars that traditionally receive less coverage included in this series. These volumes should be useful for report writers and satisfying to curious readers. - Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI School Library Journal April 2012 Issue-- "School Library Journal"