Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Margaret McNamara - ADVISABLE

Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by Esme Shapiro. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2018. $18. 978152476588

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Told entirely through the words of Eliza, this book is a snippet of the letters Eliza wrote. It pieces together the story of a woman and a nation. Eliza was born to privilege and rubbed shoulder with many leaders. She married Alexander and supported him as he defended the constitution and fought in the war. Eliza raised a big family and lost some of her children tragically and carried on Alexander’s name after he died. She even started an orphanage she was very proud of. 

I love that his book was truly about Eliza, not just Eliza as related to her role as wife to Alexander. The writing was so formal that it will be hard for young readers to stay easily engaged with the text. Additionally, a lot of the themes of Eliza’s life appeal more to an adult reader than to a child. That said, this is an interesting angle from which we can learn more about the founding of the nation. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher