{"product_id":"the-white-house-is-burning-isbn-9781580896566","title":"The White House Is Burning","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe British are coming.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis \"biography of a single day\" captures the burning of the White House by the British during the War of 1812 from the viewpoint of the people who were there, including First Lady Dolley Madison, a British officer, and a nine-year-old slave. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the early hours before dawn, a cry went out that the British were advancing on Washington, D.C. America was two years into another war—The War of 1812. By nightfall on the 24th, British soldiers were setting fire to D.C., starting with the Navy Yard, then the Capitol and the White House, where First Lady Dolley Madison still kept watch.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJane Sutcliffe draws upon first-person accounts to recreate a compelling chronology of the events of August 24, 1814.Introduction\u003cbr\u003eChapter One: The Hours Before Dawn\u003cbr\u003eChapter Two: Dawn\u003cbr\u003eChapter Three: Morning\u003cbr\u003eChapter Four: Noon\u003cbr\u003eChapter Five: Afternoon\u003cbr\u003eChapter Six: Dusk\u003cbr\u003eChapter Seven: Night\u003cbr\u003eChapter Eight: The Day After\u003cbr\u003eChapter Nine: And After\u003cbr\u003eBibliography\u003cbr\u003eSources of Quotations\u003cb\u003e*\u003c\/b\u003eIf it seems that the War of 1812 doesn't  thrive in the classroom, crammed as it is between the massive units on  the Revolutionary and Civil wars, look to Sutcliffe's title as an  antidote. With just enough requisite scene setting, the author launches  straight into a gripping reconstruction of the events of August 23 to  24, 1814, when the British invaded Maryland and the nation's capital,  burned its government buildings, terrified those citizens who hadn't  already fled, and then snuck silently out of Washington in the middle of  the night. The reporting is kept lively by its heavy reliance on  primary source material, with witnesses and participants ranging from an  American soldier who went to battle in his formal dancing pumps, to  British admiral Cockburn, who couldn't resist taunting the people he  vanquished, to Dolley Madison, who kept up a running letter to her  sister even as she ordered dinner as usual and packed up the silver (and  George Washington's portrait), just in case. Throughout the narration  Sutcliffe keeps a keen eye open for those details that convey the terror  of an attack, and she reminds readers how coverage of such an event  might play out today: \"Admiral Cockburn might have called a press  conference aboard his flagship, the \u003ci\u003eAlbion\u003c\/i\u003e. There might have been  . . . a banner proclaiming 'Mission Accomplished.'\" With a gallery of  well-selected images, source notes, bibliography, index, and  illustration credits which supplement the captions, this account will be  a first-rate addition to the American History collection.\u003cbr\u003e-\u003ci\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/i\u003e, *starred review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSometimes referred to as “America’s Second  Revolution,” the War of 1812 found British forces invading the newly  founded capital city of Washington, DC. Following the Battle of  Bladensburg and the embarrassing retreat of the U.S. militia, the  British arrived at the capital during the most oppressive weather  conditions imaginable to find the city largely abandoned. In this  hour-by-hour narrative, Sutcliffe provides a harrowing account of the  day, culminating with the burning of both the Capitol building and the  iconic White House, the flames of which could be seen as far away as  Baltimore. Extensively researched and thorough in coverage, this book  gives readers a full view of this compelling story and the events  leading up to the conflict. The title is enhanced by the original maps,  portraits, paintings, and drawings of key personalities. Sutcliffe’s use  of primary sources is impressive as she weaves together a seamless tale  from a variety of perspectives. The author draws upon firsthand  accounts from a variety of sources (respected military personnel,  political figures, everyday citizens, and slaves) to provide an  impartial, well-rounded look at this pivotal day in our nation’s history  and its aftermath. Certain to spark interest in history aficionados,  this title would be a welcome purchase for most collections.\u003cbr\u003e-\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eA graceful narrative skillfully draws from primary sources to shed light on a key historic day. In 1814, the United States lost a battle to the British on the  outskirts of Washington, D.C., with shocking results. American soldiers  fled from the battlefield, and many residents of the capital fled from  the city. \"Then the unthinkable: foreign invaders marched into  Washington, torching first the Capitol building, then the White House,\"  reads the introduction to this history. The chapters that follow detail  the day, starting before dawn and going through night, with two final  chapters about the aftermath. Sutcliffe deftly sets the battle and  invasion in the context of the War of 1812, introduces major players,  and explains unfamiliar material, like the use of rockets as weapons.  Quotes from those involved make the tale personal, with reminiscences of  a 15-year-old tourist, two young slaves and a British officer. Many apt  observations come from first lady Dolley Madison, who wrote a letter  throughout the day as she waited bravely in the White House until danger  was imminent. The polished prose is matched by an attractive, open  design with frequent headings, pullout quotes and effective visuals,  including paintings, etchings and maps. \u003cbr\u003eElegant and illuminating. \u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e-Kirkus Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eJane Sutcliffe is the author of Leonardo’s Monster, The Attack on Pearl Harbor, and Stone Giant: Michelangelo’s David and How He Came To Be, as well as nearly two dozen biographies for young readers. She lives with her family on a farm in Tolland, Connecticut.Had it happened in modern times, it would have been called breaking news. Camera crews in helicopters would have covered it all, live and on the scene. \u003cbr\u003eA nation would’ve gathered to watch the shocking images: A battle with enemy troops just outside Washington, DC. The humiliating defeat of American soldiers. Residents of Washington fleeing the city in terror. The last-minute evacuation of the First Lady from the White House. Then the unthinkable: foreign invaders marching into Washington, torching first the Capitol building, then the White House.","brand":"Charlesbridge","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46302734188773,"sku":"NP9781580896566","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781580896566.jpg?v=1767742196","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/the-white-house-is-burning-isbn-9781580896566","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}