Note: We were pleased to promote the special offer by Seven Stories Press for free copies of the e-book version of A Young People’s History of the United States for two days in March. That offer has ended, however the e-book can be purchased for $11.97 from the publisher and may also be available from your public library.
In paperback with illustrations, this is the young adult edition of Howard Zinn’s classic telling of American history. A Young People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn with Rebecca Stefoff brings to U.S. history the viewpoints of workers, people who are enslaved, immigrants, women, Native Americans, and others whose stories, and their impact, are rarely included in books for young people.
Beginning with a look at Christopher Columbus’ arrival through the eyes of the Arawak Indians; then leading the reader through the struggles for workers’ rights, women’s rights, and civil rights during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; and ending with the current protests against continued American imperialism, Zinn presents a radical way of understanding America’s history. In so doing, he reminds readers that America’s true greatness is shaped by our dissident voices, not our military generals. [Publisher’s description.]
ISBN: 9781583228692 | Seven Stories Press
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Teacher Quotes
I knew A Young People’s History of the United States book was working when students started to come into upper-level classes talking about Claudette Colvin before Rosa Parks was mentioned!
The book is very accessible to my students and it’s a great way to differentiate the class materials.
The combination of using student-led and inquiry discussions this year with A Young People’s History has changed the entire dynamic of humanities this year.
Students come to class bursting with questions and ideas to start discussions.
There has been a significant increase in engagement, motivation, connections to current events, and in general learning to question most everything, as well as history (something kids appreciate a lot).
I really wish there was a third version of the book like this that was more high school leveled. A People’s History is too much for average reader in the classroom and A Young People’s is too low. I would love to see a more middle approach for my general level students who could be slightly challenged but not have to either struggle too much or too little.
I made a study guide for this book. If you would like it, you can email me parkand@gmail.com
I really hope the error on page 143, referring to “Fort Sumter, North Carolina” has been corrected.
Zinn is sometimes used in lessons from Reading Like a Historian (http://sheg.stanford.edu/rlh), along views that may contrast or take a different point of view — a good way to challenge kids to think for themselves. Zinn tends to resonate with students – almost all of mine have asked for copies of the book — wish I could give it to each of them! I teach 8th grade.
I would love to know if anyone has written study guides or even lesson plans for this book. I want to teach this to my 11 year old son and would love some help.
~StarWolf
Does anyone know if anyone has developed study guides for this book?