What Reviewers Said:
Booklist , May
15th issue.(Starred Review). Also, Book Links (July, '08):
Winters, who so
successfully captured the common folk in
Voices of Egypt
(2005), offers an even more layered and textured group of voices here. It’s
December 16, 1773, and “Boston is about to explode.”. So begins a glorious
introduction to the Boston Tea Party, which is so much more. There’s the
printer, the baker and the shoemaker, who are secret patriots; the milliner,
who says, “Pay [the tax]! Count your blessings. I prefer the King to a
rabble-rousing mob!” The tavern keeper, the blacksmith’s slave, the Native
American basket maker, and others have their say. Winter’s strong, moving
text is supported by a thoughtful design and rich paintings capture the
individuals and their circumstances as well as what’s at stake.. This does
for colonial times what the 2007 Newbery Medal book,
Good Masters, Sweet
Ladies, does
for the Middle Ages. —Ilene Cooper
School
Library Journal ,June, '08, (Starred Review):
Colonial Bostonians introduce themselves through free-verse vignettes… A
glossary is included to help children with terms such as “fripperies,”
“journeyman,” “limner,” “hackle,” and “wag-on-the-wall.” Historical notes go
into more detail about each person’s job and compare similar positions in
the northern and southern colonies. Both men and women are portrayed; while
most characters are white, a Native American woman and a male African slave
are also featured. A unique presentation for all libraries.–Lucinda
Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, VA
Kirkus Reviews(April, '08):
Ever wonder what it felt like to be in Boston on December 16, 1773 - the
day of the infamous Boston Tea Party? Everyone has an opinion about the King
and his tea tax. By nightfall..., the patriots opt to turn Boston harbor
into a teapot and defy the King. Told from the perspectives of ordinary
citizens engaged in ordinary work, the text conveys the diversity and
defiance of the times. Engaging ink-and-watercolor illustrations contrast
the drama of this historical event with details of everyday life in the
streets and shops of colonial Boston. Savory historical fare.