Becoming Ben Franklin: How a Candle-Maker’s Son Helped Light the Flame
of Liberty
by Russell Freedman
1. Bibliography
Freedman, Russell. Becoming
Ben Franklin: How a Candle-Maker’s Son Helped Light the Flame of Liberty.
New York: Holiday House, 2013. ISBN 0823423743
2. Plot Summary
Becoming
Ben Franklin tells the story of our great statesman and inventor and how became
the great American we all know. Born to a candle-maker in Boston, he
apprenticed with his father and brother before he set out on his own (ran away)
to Philadelphia to find his independence.
He sought neither fame nor fortune but achieved both. He retired from the printing business at the
age of 42 to pursue his study of science.
He discovered the conductivity of electricity and invented the
lightening rod. He was drafted into his
statesman role, representing the United States to England twice and France late
in his life. This book captures Benjamin
Franklin, and all of his quirkiness and eccentricities, all through his amazing
life.
3. Critical Analysis
The
life of Benjamin Franklin will serve as an example for American children
possibly forever. Not only as a founding
father, but as a self-starter and someone who always strives to be a better
person. Reading a story about his life
not only teaches the history of our country but puts context to the life and
times of its people during this historical time in our history. His story serves as a good role model, and
would be of interest, to any child who wishes to pursue a life in the trades,
politics or the sciences. But also, it
serves as a shining example to anyone who wishes to work on the betterment of
self.
Dr.
Franklin strove to be a better person and focused on what he thought were the
most important virtues of industry, frugality, resolution, humility, vanity and
pride. He was more successful in some
virtues than other but he would continue the pursuit his whole life. The book
does not shy away from Franklin’s faults as well as his virtues. It points out that the man had a child out of
wedlock, was estranged from one of his children and was known for gluttony. The
book is meticulously researched with many original sources sighted. The pictures included are mostly famous
paintings done during Franklin’s life. The
book flows naturally through Franklin’s life, telling all the high points
through narration and quotes.
4. Review Excerpts
ALA 2014 Notable Children’s Books, Older Reader
Booklist 2013 Lasting Connections,
Social Studies
Booklist Editor’s Choice: Books for
Youth, 2013, Nonfiction
BooklistTop 10 Books for Youth
2013, Biographies
Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Books of
2013
School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2013,
Nonfiction
2014 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Recommended Book
From Booklist: Starred Review. “Russell
Freedman writes perceptively about every stage of
Franklin’s life, weaving in lively anecdotes as well as quotes from his Autobiography
and other writings”.
From School Library Journal: “Biographers make decisions about what to leave out as
much as what to put in, but Freedman is consistent in connecting his discussion
to primary sources. The result is an account that examines the whole of
Franklin's remarkable life but does not overwhelm readers”.
5. Connections
Gather and use other children’s
biographies about Benjamin Franklin, such as:
Byrd, Robert. Electric Ben. ISBN 0803737491Fleming, Candace. Ben Franklin's Almanac. ISBN 0689835493
Schanzer, Rosalyn. How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning. ISBN 0688169937
Gather
and use other Russell Freedman biographies, such as:
The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the
Airplane. ISBN 082341082XLincoln: A Photobiography. 0395518482
The Life and Death of Crazy Horse. ISBN 0823412199
Use in a history lesson about the
Revolutionary War.
Use in a social studies lesson about
the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States or
American government.
Use in a science lesson about
Electricity.
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