Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary

Brockenbrough, Martha. ALEXANDER HAMILTON REVOLUTIONARY. 2017. New York: Feiwel and Friends. ISBN 9781250123190

Plot Summary:

Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of treasury and this was because of his loyalty to George Washington and believing that the Colonists were entitled to certain rights independent of the British. In this biography about a man who would late be responsible for creating the Treasury Department; we learn about where Alexander Hamilton was born and how he was raised by a mother who would be labeled a whore to eventually becoming an orphan. We read about how Mr. Hamilton decides to go to New York to further himself by getting an education at a reputable college to meeting Angelica Schuyler and being introduced to her sister, Elizabeth.  We learn how Alexander Hamilton tries to befriend Aaron Burr (only to lose his life at his hands) and ultimately becomes the right-hand man of General George Washington. Alexander Hamilton lived a life filled with great moments as well as scandalous moments and this is his life story.

Critical Analysis:

Martha Brockenbrough has written a well-detailed and interesting account of Alexander Hamilton.  As I first ventured into reading this book, I was impressed with the font that Ms. Brockenbrough chose that resembles early colonial period. I believe she chose this style to match Hamilton's early writings and documents that she includes in the book as well as other documents from this time period.  The font size entices the teen/YA reader as it is easy reading and viewing on the eyes. Something else that caught my eye about this book is it's cover: the photo is the portrait that I believe is found on the $10.00 and around the edges are adjectives that describe how Alexander Hamilton was known. When it comes to the life account of Alexander Hamilton, Ms. Brockenbrough has done extensive research, providing some of the basic information about where Hamilton is born and raised to how he made his way to New York and would ingratiate himself into business and political circles. She goes further with what readers may know to filling in the holes and expanding on the accomplishments, achievements, and unfortunately some of the not so great moments of Mr. Hamilton.  What she has done is give a more complete picture of who Alexander Hamilton was; as many teens have watched the musical that made this Founding Father famous or a least they have listened to the soundtrack and/or engaged in discussions with friends. Ms. Brockenbrough even includes in her biography about Mr. Hamilton: illustrations, portraits of key figures who played a role in establishing our country, and a lot of extra information about societal norms for that time. Ms. Brockenbrough does an excellent job of citing the sources that she used to write this biography. I would highly recommend this book to any person who is interested in learning about Alexander Hamilton. Although, it is meant for teen readers; this is also a good place for adults to start who may not be interested in a biography due to the length.

Review Excerpt(s):

Publishers Weekly-"Tracing Hamilton’s amazing journey from his illegitimate birth in 1755 on the West Indies island of Nevis to his death by duel in 1804, Brockenbrough (The Game of Love and Death) dives into the extraordinary life of this accomplished and multifaceted historical figure. Packed with characters and detailed descriptions of the major historical events of the late 18th century, including many Revolutionary battle scenes, the book’s scope is somewhat daunting; even readers newly obsessed with Hamilton, thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s blockbuster musical, may feel overwhelmed at times."

CommonSense Media-"This book tackles some heavy topics about Hamilton. The BIO of him impacted me to think what Alexander went through! This book has some disturbing violence that may scare young ones. When I bought this book, it is was everything I hoped for and more! Not for young kids; more for older teens!" (commonsense media.org. Accessed 2022, November 25)

Connections:

Ask students what do they know about Alexander Hamilton and then share a few video with them about the man responsible for our country's financial system and other government practices. Crash Course: Emerging Politics

United States Treasury Profile: Treasury Secretary Ask students if they know what dollar denomination Alexander Hamilton is on? Share with them the history of when he was chosen to be featured on the bill and who he replaced.

PBS Lesson: Who Was Alexander Hamilton?

Many students are familiar with the musical, Hamilton; however, they may not have seen it. Talk with your administration (if applicable) about showing the musical in class over the course of 2-3 days. Use this as a culmination to reading the book.

The words found in this review are my own and were written for a graduate studies class at Sam Houston State University.