George vs. George shows the Revolutionary War from both the American and British perspective. Don’t be deceived by the fact that it is a picture book; in fact, it is full of interesting information and is definitely intended for older audiences. It has lots of great features that will help students learn about the structure of a non-fiction book while keeping them engaged. There’s a helpful flow chart to show how the government of both England and the colonies worked back then. Illustrations of people who were alive during the time period come with cute quotes, that happen to be actual quotes from the era. Uniforms and motives of participants are laid out in illustrations and sidebars. An index is provided.
Age Recommendation: I would say that this could be best read and understood by students in Grades 3 and up. I would expect a third grader would do better if the book were presented as a read aloud or in a reading group where adult assistance was available. Please carefully review the content as there are some graphic bits about the atrocities of war.
Unnecessary racism: A stereotypical Indian chief appears to give us information about George Washington.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – British soldiers “chased women”. Newspaper reports at the time report that British soldiers drive naked women into the streets.
Profanity – In a quote from the time period, the term “Negroes” is used. “For God’s sake”.
Death, Violence and Gore – Cannons fire. The death rate in London is high. London has public hangings. Tar and feathering is mentioned and shown in an illustration, but the true horror of what it does is not relayed or discussed. A straw man is hung. Five colonists are shot and killed in the Boston Massacre. Men are drawn holding guns. Men hold hatchets during the Boston Tea Party. Gunpowder is smuggled in, armies are raised. Injured, bloody and dead bodies are shown in illustrations. War is shown. Newspapers report that redcoats butcher old men and infants. Ben Franklin warns of hanging. A man visits cockfights. Armies loot and burn. Many soldiers die of illness. A ship is on fire. It is reported that while fighting with the British, Indians burned homes, tortured and killed whole families, scalped the dead and even ate some of their victims. (I have never heard this, but it seems slightly sensational to include it in a children’s book even if it is true. It is also far more likely to perpetuate negative stereotypes and the demonization of minorities.) Evidently as revenge, Washington’s soldiers burned Native American villages, collected scalps and made pants from the skin of Indians.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – British soldiers got drunk. A man drinks wine.
Frightening or Intense Things – Slavery is mentioned of course, and the author does state that Washington owned slaves. Smuggling is also covered.
