Reconstruction: The Rebuilding of the United States after the Civil War

Gr 7-10–This history resource chronicles the period following the Civil War. The text tries to analyze the time period within the context of current events and show how the missteps of the past have impacted the present. Each chapter begins with a comic strip of a young Black woman and her grandmother, who discuss racism and America’s legacy of white supremacy. The “Inquire & Investigate” series urges students to delve deeper into topics and provides sample assignments. The book feels like a school assignment rather than an informational read, but the text covers the era thoroughly, providing QR codes and numerous historical illustrations. Time lines, sidebars, investigative opportunities, additional resources, and an index are included. The text is readable but obviously geared for classroom use as opposed to pleasure reading.