We the People: Poems

From School Library Journal Grade 5-8-These 65 poems represent a cross section of American voices, from Colonial times up to the end of the 20th century. Katz places herself in the shoes of a variety of different characters to express their thoughts and feelings at particular moments in history. For the purposes of verisimilitude, an individual's name, location, and a date is given for each entry. Thomas Jefferson, Harriet Tubman, Eleanor Roosevelt, and other historical figures join the ranks of imaginary men, women, and children. For instance, in "Inauguration Day Thoughts," George Washington muses on the heavy responsibility he is about to take on as the nation's first president. "My White House Education" tells what a maid learns about international affairs while serving President James Monroe his dinner. Twenty-eight of the poems were originally published in Katz's American History Poems (Scholastic, 1998), but the majority of the selections are new. While most of them are well written, a few do not scan well. Quibbles aside, the poetry is nicely varied in meter and tone, which helps sustain the premise that a multitude of Americans are speaking directly to readers. An attractive full-color collage appears "At the Edge of" each century. Katz's book is unique in offering such a strong sense of time and place. It will find its greatest use in the classroom, providing teachers with an effective way of introducing students to history, and will be a good source of material for creative dramatics, or even a class pageant.