The Constitution Decoded: A Guide to the Document That Shapes Our Nation

by Katie Kennedy, Ben Kirchner (Illustrator), Kermit Roosevelt (Contribution by)

Overview

The ultimate guide to the US Constitution—and the history of the US through the law of the land—for middle grade readers ages 10+. The book decodes the original document with a direct translation of the text, dissecting every word, phrase and idea. Then it connects the document to major historical figures and events using full-color illustrations and examples of how the document works in practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781523510443
Publisher:	Workman Publishing Company, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/2020
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	181,708
Product dimensions:	9.90(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Katie Kennedy teaches history at a college in Iowa, although she and her husband devote most of their time to taking care of a small black dog and a large gray cat. She’s the author of the young adult novels Learning to Swear in America and What Goes Up.  She lives in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Vetter Kermit Roosevelt teaches constitutional law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is the author of two novels, Allegiance and In the Shadow of the Law, and a book about the Supreme Court, The Myth of Judicial Activism. He lives in Philadelphia, PA.

Ben Kirchner is an illustrator in Bath, England. He takes inspiration from mid-century illustration, and loves to use detail and body language to develop character on the page. He has worked for a wide range of publishing companies and news organizations, including The Chicago Tribune, the New Yorker, and the Washington Post.
 

Editorial Reviews

"Kennedy admirably decodes a document that’s not easily decipherable." - Booklist 
 

From the Publisher

08/01/2020

Gr 5–8—Kennedy's examination of the U.S. Constitution translates the document into accessible, modern language for young readers. The book uses an easy-to-follow format. The original text of the Constitution appears on the left page with numbered notations (similar to footnotes) corresponding to the "decoded" explanation on the right page. Kennedy clarifies the sometimes wordy, dense text and outdated spellings. There are notes about changes made to the Constitution over the course of history, namely changes implemented by amendments ratified by the states. Kirchner's cartoon-style illustrations depict important people who were involved in shaping the legal history of the country. "Did You Know?" fact boxes provide details about specific court cases, political events, and historical incidents. African American historical figures (including Harriet Tubman, Dred Scott, and Frederick Douglass) and Native American activists (Richard Oakes) discuss parts of the Constitution that have impacted marginalized Americans. The book concludes with the texts of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Back matter offers a vocabulary section, further reading, and an index. However, the original text for Article X of the Covenant of the League of Nations is missing. VERDICT In the hands of a skilled social studies teacher, this informative book will help students unpack this foundational document that impacts all Americans. Recommended for school and public libraries.—Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area Dist. Lib., Holt, MI

School Library Journal

2020-05-17
Kennedy and Kirchner present young readers with an introduction to the U.S. Constitution and its amendments, offering a direct, simple “translation” of the original text.

An introduction explains why the Constitution is important before Kennedy launches into her project of presenting the Constitution in its original language and her accompanying paraphrasing and examples, organized by articles, sections, and amendments. Vocabulary words are identified in bold and defined at the bottom of each page and in a glossary. Boxes labeled “Did You Know?” and “Look Back” offer limited factual backstory about how or why a specific part of the document was created. “Constitution in Action” boxes explain how the document is used in practice and further explore how the government works. No overarching narrative ties all the text together. The complete texts of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation are included as further reading but without accompanying simplified versions. Contextual explanations are often vague, the two sentences discussing the freedom of speech not including any of its limitations, for instance. There is no explanation of how the Constitutional Convention was organized or of who participated. The cartoon illustrations depicting diverse but generic-looking figures wearing contemporary and historical garb and a sprinkling of anthropomorphized states are oddly incongruous with the seriously toned, straightforward text. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-16-inchdouble-page spreads viewed at 83% of actual size.)

This effort will leave readers aware of the document but with little understanding of it. (glossary, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews