I have decided to use the Declaration of Independence as the topic to compare within the two books. Although both were historically informative, I was much more interested in Hakim's version. Wood's "The American Revolution" includes many facts, dates and characters that were all relevant in leading up to the written declaration. However, I had a hard time keeping my focus on this book. It was factual and accurate, but it didn't soak me in or make me feel involved. This would not be suitable for younger students.
On the flip side, I really enjoyed Hakim's version in "A History of US", starting with the backround information about Thomas Jefferson. He was young and shy, but had a reputation for writing well. The reasons for writing the declaration were clearly stated and explained, including the issues with slavery which had to be removed from the document because of the times. And of course, the pictures and political cartoons added to the interest for me. Hakim's style is more like plain language storytelling, which I appreciate.
