From School Library Journal Grade 7 Up Hauptly describes the workings of the Constitutional Convention both through the needs of the country at the time (independence from Britain, economic self-sufficiency, democratic governance of the states) and by examining the individuals who helped satisfy those needs (Washington, Madison, Paterson, Franklin). By focusing on this particular event in the early history of our country, he is better able to describe and analyze the workings of the Convention than can most general history books for this level, although his chapter organization is loosely defined, and chapters are long. Hauptly admirably attempts to brighten and personalize a subject that can too easily be a tediously oft-told tale, but his use of ``as we know'' and ``as you can see'' seems more pedantic than inspiring. Additionally, his factual presentations are too often interrupted by unsubstantiated, and not footnoted, opinions like ``James Madison must have worked very hard at his reading.'' Solid and insightful factual content on the whole, recommended for collections supporting broad U.S. history coverage.Catherine vanSonnenberg, LaJolla Country Day School, Calif.Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
