Clinton Cox

True to Scholastic standards, this book provides an excellent introductory reading to the wonder that is the 54th.

In summary, it tells mostly of the famous battle at Fort Wagner and the struggles and tribulations faced throughout the entirety of the book. If you're looking for extra content, you won't find them here. Undying Glory is mostly intended for younger readers and those with little knowledge of whom the 54th were. It could also be a great book for fans of the 54th who wish to read another authors take on this celebrated regiment. Overall, it is not a challenging read at all and appropriate for children who wish to learn more about American Civil War histories without being too cluttered with political upheavals, graphic depictions, and bias.… (more)

Written in simple prose with basic vocabulary, this book is intended for elementary or middle-school aged children as an introduction to the part African-Americans played in the War of Independence.
Starting with Crispus Attucks, who died in the Boston Massacre, Cox moves chronologically through the war, introducing the reasons for the war and how they affected both free and slave alike. There is a limited amount of information about blacks during this time, as formal record keeping was sketching at best, and so much was destroyed. Often, the prose feels like a basic review of the war - but that isn't Cox's fault. He does a fine job of putting in information about blacks. He also does a good job of giving an unbiased few. He speaks of both the honor and the injustice faced by blacks, giving an overview of the country. He is honest, though, and doesn't hide how horrible it was for blacks during that time, how unfairly they were treated.
I highly recommend this book to teachers and homeschool parents. It's an excellent source for learning, with a plethora of topics for discussion. It's easy enough for younger children to read, but challenging enough it isn't topic to engage older children.… (more)