American Patriots

Recently, I finished reading American Patriots: Answering the Call to Freedom by Rick Santorum. While a slim book, American Patriots packs a lot of content and introduces readers to a larger scope of patriots beyond Washington, Henry, and LaFayette. After a brief introduction, Santorum organizes the book into the sections Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Each section contains an overview of that subject and describes what those terms meant to the founding fathers and people of that time period. Santorum then proceeds to share biographies of various patriots who are less well-known yet were instrumental in the War for Independence.

Santorum includes a variety of individuals and does not limit the selection to "dead, white males." Included are individuals of varying racial and ethnic groups as well as many women. Perusing the table of contents prior to reading the book, I found that all of the individuals listed except for three were unfamiliar to me. While reading the brief biographies of each individual, I found that several are considered regional heroes and would be quite familiar to individuals who live in those regions. Santorum also includes multiple references for individuals who may wish to further research any of these individuals.

American Patriots is recommended for multiple audiences. As Christmas is coming, American Patriots would be a great gift for a history buff. Teachers and home school families would appreciate the behind the scenes information beyond dates and battles American Patriots would add to a unit on the American Revolution. Families who enjoy read-alouds will find this a great resource as each chapter is brief yet meaty enough to elicit great conversation and character building. Our family plans to add this to our read-aloud pile. Individuals who may not agree with Santorum politically will still enjoy the stories of these unsung heroes.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Pubishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”