On My Bookshelf: Alexander Hamilton: The Graphic History of an American Founding Father by Jonathan Hennessey

The basic plot from Amazon: Alexander Hamilton was one of the most influential figures in United States history—he fought in the Revolutionary War, helped develop the Constitution, and as the first Secretary of the Treasury established landmark economic policy that we still use today. Cut down by a bullet from political rival Aaron Burr, Hamilton has since been immortalized alongside other Founding Fathers such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson—his likeness even appears on the ten-dollar bill. In this fully-illustrated and impeccably researched graphic novel-style history, author Jonathan Hennessey and comic book illustrator Justin Greenwood bring Alexander Hamilton’s world to life, telling the story of this improbable hero who helped shape the United States of America.

Why I liked it: Alexander Hamilton: The Graphic History of an American Founding Father is as detailed in narration as it is in illustration. Every moment of Hamilton's life from birth to death is meticulously recorded in this graphic novel of a biography. Besides being an overwhelming source of information on Hamilton's life, the graphic novel also provides interesting insight (and some facts previously unknown to me) into some other key figures in American history such as George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Benedict Arnold, etc.

Classroom application: Hamilton, the musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is all the rage right now (though I have yet to see it), so this book would be a great recommendation for fans or any of your students who are history buffs. The higher level vocabulary (much of it a bit old-fashioned and/or political jargon) makes this graphic novel more appropriate for high school than middle school.

The graphic novel or excerpts of it could be paired with a unit in an American history course focused on the events leading up to the Revolutionary War and the decisions made afterward that shaped our government and economy (Hamilton lived from 1755 or 57 until 1804). Hamilton played a pivotal role in convincing colonists to join the fight for freedom, and was an active participant in the Revolutionary War, instrumental in the promotion of the Constitution, and key in establishing national financial stability.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Alexander Hamilton: The Graphic History of an American Founding Father for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

Note: I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.