"There were once two enemies who were both named George."
Ages: 8 - 11
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Pages: 64
Time Period: 1700s
Perhaps, like me, you've grown up with this view of the American Revolution. Patriots were undisputed champions of liberty and justice and goodness. Loyalists, especially King George III himself, were wicked, tyrannical bad guys that stood for just the opposite! But, as George vs. George by Rosalyn Schanzer reminds us, "There are two sides to every story." This picture book takes an objective look at both sides before, during, and after the American Revolution. It also takes a look at the two main figures that would be forever associated with this conflict - George Washington and King George III.
This is one of the best books for kids about the American Revolution that I have ever read! The detailed illustrations beautifully support the text with depictions of events and people, diagrams, maps, et cetera. The writing itself is comprehensive, clear, and detailed enough without being overwhelming. The book covers the differences and similarities of the American and British cultures, what ranks and soldiers made up each army, the type of governments each country had, and much more. Highly recommend George vs. George by Rosalyn Schanzer!
Resources:
You can find videos, activities, crafts and more that relate to this book on our Pinterest board!
Content Warnings
Content that some individuals may find controversial or objectionable. Attention was given to include content which may offend people of a particular culture, race or religion and details which the sensitive child may find unsettling or troublesome.
"No Spoilers" offers a summary of content issues while avoiding spoilers. "With Spoilers" lists the potential content issues in detail.
No Spoilers:
Illustrations and in-text violence, tar and feathering, and death; insults; God's name used as an expletive; Use of archaic reference to a people group; a brief mention of suicide; dark humor; mental illness; amputation.
With Spoilers:
Imagery
There are two illustrations that depict mob violence (not graphic). One is of a person being tarred and feathered and the other is the hanging of an effigy (p.19).
The war scenes throughout the book show wounded and dead soldiers; sometimes tainted with or surrounded in red (see example below).
Language
Name-calling and negative labels (such as Royal Brute and race of convicts) used throughout to show the tensions between the different factions.
God used as an expletive (Word Bubble p. 22 and 29).
Negroes used in a quote (Word Bubble p. 27).
Violence
This is a book about war. Violent events are mentioned throughout the book in general terms. There are a few times when the author includes more specific details (examples below).
Within the text:
brief mention of suicide
Patriots accuse the British of butchering the elderly and infants (p. 30)
Within the dialogue:
dark humor-- a descriptive joke about hanging (Word Bubble p. 37)
two quotes about a bloody death "...hope to die up to my knees in blood!" (Word Bubbles p. 29)
a description of conditions that led to amputation (Word Bubble p. 45)
Sensitive Content
The book gives certain details about King George III's mental illness; such as how he had "long conversations with angels" and was at times confined in a straitjacket (p. 55).
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