? Four Starred Reviews ??Throw out the high school textbooks and put this outstanding book in the hands of the next generation!? ?The Booklist Reader?An excellent introduction to the strengths and wea
An essential book on the U.S. Constitution for everyone grappling with today's most urgent political issues. From the award-winning duo of Cynthia and Sanford Levinson.
? Four Starred Reviews ?
?Throw out the high school textbooks and put this outstanding book in the hands of the next generation!? ?The Booklist Reader
?An excellent introduction to the strengths and weaknesses of our founding document?especially enlightening for those who don?t yet understand how our government is supposed to work.? ?New York Times bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson
School Library Journal Best Nonfiction Books of the Year
Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year
Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Books of the Year
Best Books of the Year ?Bank Street College of Education
Parents? Choice Gold Award
Cynthia Levinson, a noted children?s nonfiction author, has teamed up with her husband Sanford Levinson, one of the nation?s foremost constitutional scholars, to address the fact that many of the political issues we struggle with today have their roots in one place?the U.S. Constitution.
Their award-winning book, Fault Lines in the Constitution, takes readers back to the creation of this historic document and discusses how contemporary problems were first introduced?and then they offer possible solutions. Think of timely subjects such as voting rights, presidential pardons, executive and emergency powers, the Electoral College, gerrymandering, even the Senate. Many of us take these features in our system for granted. But they came about through haggling in an overheated room in 1787, and we?re still experiencing the ramifications.
Each chapter in this timely and thoughtful exploration of the Constitution?s creation begins with a story?all but one of them true?that connects directly back to a section of the document that forms the basis of our society and government. Informative sidebars and graphics run throughout along with a timeline and bibliography.
Discussion Guide available!
Visit the blog at www.faultlinesintheconstitution.com.
?Lately there?s been dismay that civics, government, and history have taken a backseat in classrooms. This smartly conceived book goes a long way toward reintroducing students to those subjects?.the Levinsons link both history and current events as they offer an illustrative group of examples that show where the Constitution got it right?and wrong?. Although the font, charts, and well-written text make this appealing, it?s not always an easy read. It is, however, an important one.? ?Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
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?Interest-piquing anecdotes open each chapter, the effects of the Constitution?s provisions are dramatically summarized in poster-like illustrations, and the ensuing discussions?are both cogent and highly readable?thought-provoking and exceptionally topical? ?Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
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?A fascinating, thoughtful, and provocative look at what in the Constitution keeps the United States from being ?a more perfect union.?? ?Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
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?Insightful? Much food for thought on the application and relevance of many of the Constitution?s stipulations. Essential for class discussions, debate teams, and reports.? ?School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
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