George Washington's Socks <small> by Elvira Woodruff </small>

George Washington's Socks is a Time Warp Trio/Magic Tree House sort of adventure. In the book there are four boys -- Matthew, Quentin, Hooter and Tony-- as well as Matt's little sister, Katie, whose role is to lead them into trouble.

The kids don't have a tree house or book to whisk them off, but a rowboat which has a history of mysteriously appearing and disappearing with members of the kids' community.

The principle value of GWS is not so much that it gives tons of information about our first president --it doesn't-- or that it has praise worthy prose --it's competent but pedestrian--, but rather that the story really brings home the fact that the American Revolutionary War was real, and that people suffered for what they believed in.

Talking Points:::
This is one of the books our school has chosen for all 4th Graders to read. And now having read it myself, I can understand why. Elvira Woodruff makes the cold and danger of Washington's crossing palpable. And while she doesn't give much information about George Washington, she does bring the era to life in a way I think kids can understand.

George Washington is portrayed as a kind, fatherly figure, but despite the title of the book, he is not the principle focus. Instead the attention is on the common people. Woodruff gives examples of how dangerous it was for common people during the revolution. Not just for combatants, but for farmers who could be hung as traitors on a moment's notice.

I'm rather sorry that there weren't further adventures for 'the adventure club' as I think Woodruff does a very good job of bringing to light the cultural differences between today and the past. And her take on history is more realistic and accurate than the other time-traveling series.

Pam
Somewhere in the X-burbs

George Washington's Socks