Any ideas for a basic U.S. History textbook?

[Shawn On the Border]

Ds14 and ds17 are doing U.S. History over 2 years. Last year, ds17 used Tindall and Shi America: a Narrative History. That is fine for him, and he will use it again this year.

 

Ds 14 used Hakim's History of US. Although it is a great series, I don't think it's a good fit for ds. It has so many side-bars and tangential information. I find it very interesting, but I think it's a little confusing for ds. I think he would do better with a high school level textbook, that focuses on the main points of U.S. history. I would also consider a non-textbook.

 

Any ideas?

 

Shawn

[regentrude]

William Bennett America The Last Best Hope

 

It reads like a non-fiction "real" book, not a textbook.

[Corraleno]

Did your 14 yo complete the first half of the Hakim series last year? If so, you could get Volumes C & D of the "condensed" version of History of US that K12 uses; they are available used on Amazon. In addition to the text being condensed/abridged, they are nice hardcovers with a simpler, cleaner (although still well-illustrated) format.

 

Jackie

[LNC]

I really like American Odyssey from K12. We found a used copy for $12. We are using that and Hakim.

[Shawn On the Border]

Thank you! I will look at the Bennett book when I go over to Barnes and Noble. I am leaning more towards a textbook. I didn't know they had come out with a condensed version of Hakim. I will check it out. The American Odyssey book may be good as well.

 

Thanks,

 

Shawn

[Jane Elliot]

We're using A Patriot's History of the United States this year. The website has a lot of extras, including discussion questions for each chapter.

[EKS]

I recommend The American Odyssey from K12.  We went through several US history texts before finding this one.  It is coherent and interesting the way their Human Odyssey series is, but it's for older students.

[jessicalb]

We like A People's History of the United States and America: The Story of Us.

[In The Great White North]

Seconding America: The Last Best Hope.

 

You can (at least, you could) get a textbook edition and online study guide, tests, answers, and related rabbit trails for a fee. You can also get it as an audiobook.