There are, of course, many books about the controversial presidency of Andrew Jackson, some even for young readers, but Teri Kanefield's Making of America series is compelling and very readable.

Jackson was a very interesting person, and this book hits all of the highlights and low points of Jackson's life, from his childhood during the Revolutionary War, to his elopement with Rachel Donelson, his military ambitions, and divisive politics.

I didn't have a lot of good feelings about Andrew Jackson going into this book, and I don't feel much better about him after finishing, but I do feel like I have a more complete picture of his life, legacy, and the lasting impact of his politics.

I've loved every one of the Making of America Series, and I'm hoping for many, many more additions to the series.

Wow! If the biographies and history books I had to read in school were as half as interesting as Teri Kanefield's writing, I would have devoured them!

The book opens with a bang - Andrew Jackson doing something at his inauguration that no other president had done - letting the masses into the White House. He was quite the maverick, upsetting protocol his whole life.

There is an abundance of pictures and diagrams, which add to the interest of the biography. There's an extensive bibliography in the back, along with a comprehensive index.

Andrew Jackson was an interesting character and his story enhanced by excellent writing style!

I've been aware of President Andrew Jackson since the musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson which i adore so much. I enjoyed how his life was told and the way that the book was set out. It provided so much information and i think if you listen to the musical you need to read the book to understand the context of certain bits (ie. My name's Rachel). I feel like this is one book i'll have to visit it again as it was that good.

This book will be very useful to students, full of information about President Jackson's life that they may not already know -- such as the fact that Martin Van Buren, who would later also be President, served as a campaign manager of sorts (before such a position existed) for Jackson. The book's information is extensive without being overly detailed, including political maneuvers, social customs, slavery, Constitutional issues, and more. So many important issues and politicians were active during this time, so reading this book gives a great overview and understanding of what was happening and why.

Andrew Jackson, the second book in The Making of America series from Teri Kanefield, is an important work both for helping middle school children understand the development of the country and for offering some insight into the kinds of people some of today's politicians admire.

While I find Jackson to be anything but a man worthy of much admiration in 21st century America he played a large role in the shaping of the country. Because of that his story is indeed an important part of history. Kanefield does a remarkable job of presenting the man in a fair and accurate way (something I would have struggled to do without pointing out the obvious negative implications for our current predicament). By doing so students can question during classroom discussion how or why some things were accepted and even encouraged. A slanted presentation would have caused lock step reactions on all sides and would not have helped to either promote debate or actually teach the nuances of history.

Like the previous volume (on Alexander Hamilton) this book will be a valuable addition to both home and school libraries as well as a wonderful addition to the classroom itself. In addition to Jackson's story there are plenty of sidebars with ideas, incidents, and terms that will allow this book to serve as more than simply a biography of Jackson.

Kanefield tells his story in a coherent narrative that leads from important historical event to important historical event while also showing how Jackson's personal life and psychological makeup contributed to his actions during those events. When too much importance is given to a charismatic person then that person's personal strengths and flaws become ever more important because we are giving them so much power. There is a warning here even if it is not made explicit (as expected from a good history book) about personal vindictiveness and pettiness when given power. Combined with a less than astute ability to pay attention to details (sounds like right now) and long lasting harm can result.

I would recommend this to both schools and parents. While the book itself is balanced it certainly invites discussion about both history and government, so where one might sit on the political spectrum won't matter. Kanefield does not judge Jackson here, she tells his story,often in his own uneducated words.

“Andrew Jackson” by Teri Kanefield, is a biography geared for school-age readers, and chronicles the life and times of one of the more controversial presidents of The United States. This well researched book provides an objective and comprehensive look at public and private life of Jackson. It covers Jackson’s colorful and controversial life including his early life, military career, his tumultuous time as president, and his personal life at The Hermitage in Tennessee. The book presents a generally positive view of Jackson, but does not gloss over his contentious activities as president. Kanefield positions Jackson’s actions within the historical framework of the era and not solely in the context of current mores.
Andrew Jackson had an intriguing personal and public life. I visited Jackson’s Hermitage home in Tennessee in the summer of 2017. I watched the reenactment of the scandalous duels, and toured the Hermitage itself. I also attended a presentation by a local historian covering the “Indian Removal Act” and its repercussions. I found that Kanefield’s book mirrored what I learned there.
I received a review copy of “Andrew Jackson” from Teri Kanefield, Abrams Books, and NetGalley. I found it factual, comprehensive, and appropriate for school-age readers and adults as well.

A comprehensive and interesting look at one of America's most controversial presidents, Andrew Jackson.

Jackson is a very complex and troubling figure, and this book does a good job of not “sugar coating” his many issues. I particularly enjoyed the contextual asides that were presented along with the text in order to explain key Constitutional issues.

This book was straight-forward and informative. While it is meant for young readers, I don't think that should mean intrigue and story should be stripped away. As an adult I could read between the lines and supplement my own previous knowledge about the former President. I'm not so sure its appeal for young people today as the narrative read more like a report; I can't think of how it was particularly different than other biographies. I'd love to see James L. Swanson or Steve Sheinken tackle Jackson.

An interesting and informative biography of a little known president. I found there was so much information in the book that I slowed down my reading to absorb the details. The illustrations are fabulous showing the portraits but also the gatherings of the people. The inserts in black give details to help understand the information. I like the readability of the book. It was not a list of fact but rather a story woven by facts of a turbulent life..