A boy fights for freedom

“My Brother Sam Is Dead”

James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Tories were people who were loyal to the king of England during the American Revolution. In this story, Sam, the oldest son, comes from a family of Tories. He decides he wants to be a Patriot. After he has a big fight with his father, Sam runs off because he wants to join the army of Patriots.

When Sam is gone, the family goes on with its usual life. But before Sam comes home, unusual things happen. Will Sam survive? Read the story to find out!

Reviewed by Marianna, 11

Horace Mann Elementary

Glendale

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“Statue of Liberty”

Leonard Everett Fisher

Liberty Enlightening the World, or as she is better known, the Statue of Liberty, was built despite financial difficulties. One human mind, that of the famous French sculptor Frederic Bartholdi, was responsible for the design. In 1865, after the American Civil War, politically active groups in France came up with the idea of giving a gift to Americans, a monument as a symbol of friendship, because France had been inspired by the American experiment -- liberty.

Several engineers, architects and sculptors helped Bartholdi with the building, measurements and calculations of the statue. It was made out of copper, and several hundred people worked on it. It was made piece by piece. The head of the statue was shown in the World’s Fair in Paris in order to raise money to complete the statue. The torch was sent to Philadelphia in 1876 as a celebration of the 100th birthday of independence. Finally, in 1884 the statue was completed, but it took almost two years to ship it to the U.S. in 214 crates and place it on its pedestal on Bedloe’s Island, which is known today as Liberty Island. On Oct. 28,1886, the Statue of Liberty was officially opened. It measured 151 feet, 1-inch tall, weighed 450,000 pounds and had 168 stairs reaching to its head. Only a few people could climb to the top.

Every year, when Americans celebrate Independence Day, fireworks light up the sky in New York City, where the Statue of Liberty is shining proudly as a symbol of freedom and liberty to all Americans.

Reviewed by Anie, 9

Fremont Elementary

Glendale

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