Decker, Timothy. For Liberty: The Story of the Boston Massacre.
Asheville, North Carolina: Front Street Press, 2009. ISBN: 9781590786086.
Author/Illustrator Website: www.timothydecker.com
Media: pen and ink
Awards and Honors: 2009 Cybil Nominated title for Non Fiction (MG/YA)
Use of Onomatopoeia:
"Bells pealed throughout the city."
"They could hear the growing din as the talked."
"The throng of colonists grew as did the roar of their cries."
"The bells continued to ring as if signaling the new tragedy."
Use of Sophisticated Language:
"Quarter no fiendish soldiers in your homes. Welcome no ill bred thieves to your hearth. Protect your liberties in this doleful and dark time."
"...soldiers quartered in a populous town, will always occasion two mobs where they prevent one. They are wretched conservators of the peace."
Use of Rhythm/Repetition:
"The mob swelled.
The reasonable men went home.
The bellicose remained."
"Surely the mob would not assault a trained soldier.
Surely his men would not fire for fear of shooting their officer.
Certainly a show of force would dissolve the anger."
Curricular Connection: 5th Grade History/ Social Studies, California State Board of Education Standards, 5.5: Students explain the causes of the American Revolution: 1. Understand how political, religious, and economic ideas and interests brought about the Revolution (e.g., resistance to imperial policy, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts, taxes on tea, Coercive Acts).
Annotation: A stark, graphic novel style account of the Boston Massacre, one most significant events in the lead up to the Revolutionary War.
Personal Reaction: The Boston Massacre was a serious event with sweeping repercussions for the city of Boston, the colonies and England. Decker honors the gravity of this confusing evening that made the history books by keeping his graphic novel style drawings simple and spare. Readers come to understand that this massacre actually began after a great deal of pent up emotion and anger over taxes on the colonists side and colonist abuse of the British soldiers on the British side. Students gain insight into the mindset of young Private White who cries “fire,” in a moment of stress and aggravation. The consequences of this moment are a rebellion, the death of five men and a trial watched by all. This book offers and excellent opportunity to teach students about the American legal system. None other than John Adams defends the British soldiers responsible for firing on an angry mob of colonists, not because he sided with the British, but because he believed in the right to a fair trial and counsel. For Liberty is a nice, contemporary styled book to introduce the study of the American Revolution. It also works nicely as a supplemental source for a biography study of John Adams.
