cover image Don't Know Much about American History

Don't Know Much about American History

Kenneth C. Davis. HarperCollins Publishers, $6.99 (224pp) ISBN 978-0-06-440836-3

Using his highly successful q&a formula and proceeding chronologically, Kenneth C. Davis adds to his series for young people with Don't Know Much About American History, illus. by Matt Faulkner. Readers may be surprised to learn, for example, that the ratification of the constitution was not ""a sure thing,"" requiring nine of the 13 states' approval (Virginia and New York were two of the holdouts) or that 17 African-American men were elected to Congress between 1869 and 1876. Sidebars, brief bios, copious quotes and Faulkner's pen-and-inks keep the design lively.