Michael Burgan has written numerous books for children and young adults during his nearly 20 years as a freelance writer. Many of his books have focused on U.S. history, geography, and the lives of world leaders. Michael has won several awards for his writing, and his graphic novel version of the classic tale Frankenstein (Stone Arch Books) was a Junior Library Guild selection. Michael graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in history. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his cat, Callie.
Author and history buff, Michael Burgan writes in a format that is
easy for readers to comprehend, while at the same time engaging
them and keeping the topic fascinating at all times. . . .When I
was in elementary school, I dreaded history lessons because they
were incredibly boring! It was pure rote memorization and not at
all engaging. In contrast, the interactive nature of Ellis Island
is more like a real life adventure - both happy and sad - that
teaches without clobbering students over the head with straight
facts. Where was this book when I was growing up?-- "Smart Books
for Smart Kids blog"
History can take many paths and these entries in the You Choose:
History series prove just that. After a brief introduction to the
time period, the books use a "Choose Your Own Adventure"-style
format that follows three fictional young people through historical
ups and downs - including, sometimes, death. Complemented by
archival photographs and reproductions, the brisk text highlights
key events, people, and places. . . .Each title concludes with a
chapter about the time period's legacy and extensive back matter to
encourage further exploration.-- "Booklist"
Most choose-your-path books I find to be very impersonal. Because
everything is written in second person, it is hard to relate to the
characters. However, this book overcomes this and I can connect
very well with the character's thoughts and emotions. . . .I also
liked that there were writing prompts and resources to learn more
and a time line of the island in the back of the book. I gave this
book five stars for an adventure that challenged the reader's
decision-making and was both educational and entertaining.-- "San
Francisco Book Review"
Spring 2014; Page 83 The famous photograph of an immigrant family
on the deck of a ship looking at the Statue of Liberty decorates
the cover of Ellis Island: An Interactive History Adventure. That
one iconic image of the anonymous and hopeful immigrants symbolizes
the big picture of the mass European immigration. Within are the
diverse experiences of three different young immigrants who passed
through the Ellis Island immigrant processing center, which is now
a museum of the immigration experience. In each section readers can
decide, Encylopedia Brown-style, what choices the immigrants should
make at various crossroads and then see the consequences of each
decision.-- "Jewish Book World, Jewish Book Council"
STAR REVIEW! These books are a great way to present historical
fiction to young readers in a way that they will enjoy. The stories
are fast-paced, realistic, contain a lot of good historical facts,
and often involve life or death choices. . . .These unique titles
should be purchased for any elementary school or middle school
collection.-- "Library Media Connection"
What if what YOU thought should happen made a difference in the
plot of the stories you read? The You Choose books allow you to
imagine yourself as a character from history and take the story
down different paths based on the choices you make. Books in the
series include Ellis Island, The Child Labor Reform Movement, The
Salem Witch Trials, and more.-- "New Moon Girls, Lacey Recommends"
Ask a Question About this Product More... |