Joy Hakim's A History of US

In this more-than-narrative history of the United States, Joy Hakim's conversational voice presents the story of our country in terms that are not self-consciously didactic. Hakim's prose is surprisingly adaptable, ranging easily between story-time simplicity and a more complex style for sections dealing with ideas.

Each volume is illustrated with dozens of vintage drawings, paintings, photographs and maps, many of them in full color. While these aren't typical textbooks, there are some textbook-like features, including supplementary vocabulary, insets with little-known or important facts about people and dates, appendices, maps, etc. Teacher materials are available from the author's website.

This is history as most of us wish we'd had it—cool, literate, informative. Hakim is never dry, but she also avoids the opposite mistakes of relying solely on stories or of fictionalizing her account. A History of US was written for all ages, from grade 2 to adults. If you're planning on having your younger kids read these books, the main drawback will probably be Hakim's unabashed secularism. For high schoolers and adults, Clarence Carson's Basic History of the United States series could be a good balance to Hakim's liberalism.

History is famously boring. A History of US is not boring, but it's not silly, either. This is real history that is really interesting. If you want your kids to suffer in history as much as you did, look elsewhere. If, however, you're a kind-hearted soul who wants your kids to enjoy their academic ventures, this is a good choice.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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19 Items found Print
History of US - 11 Volume Set
History of US
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$135.60
History of US - 11 Volumes (hardcover)
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$165.00 (1 in stock)
History of US Book 1
History of US Book 1
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$15.95 $11.00 (1 in stock)
History of US Book 10
History of US Book 10
by Joy Hakim
4th edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$15.95
History of US Book 11: Sourcebook and Index
History of US Book 11
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$15.95 $11.00 (2 in stock)
History of US Book 2
History of US Book 2
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$15.95 $11.00 (2 in stock)
History of US Book 2
by Joy Hakim
3rd edition from Oxford University
for 4th-6th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
History of US Book 3
History of US Book 3
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$15.95
History of US Book 4
History of US Book 4
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$15.95
History of US Book 4
by Joy Hakim
3rd edition from Oxford University
for 4th-6th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
History of US Book 5
History of US Book 5
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$15.95
History of US Book 6
History of US Book 6
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$15.95 $11.00 (1 in stock)
History of US Book 7
History of US Book 7
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$15.95
History of US Book 8
History of US Book 8
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$15.95 $11.00 (1 in stock)
History of US Book 8
History of US Book 8
by Joy Hakim
3rd edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$9.00 (2 in stock)
History of US Book 8 - Teaching Guide Middle/High School
History of US Book 8
by Marcia Newfield, Deborah Parks, and Karen Edwards
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
History of US Book 9
History of US Book 9
by Joy Hakim
3rd Revised Edition from Oxford University
American History Reference for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$15.95 $11.00 (2 in stock)
History of US Book 9
by Joy Hakim
3rd edition from Oxford University
for 5th-7th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$9.00 (1 in stock)
History of US Book Concise Edition B
by Joy Hakim
Concise from K12
for 5th-9th grade
in Joy Hakim's A History of US (Location: HISA-HAKIM)
$9.00 (1 in stock)