Dolley Madison, the White House, and the Big Tornado

Introducing the events of the Burning of Washington, Boynton and Blevins follow Dolley Madison (1768–1849) through a fateful event: the British invasion of the U.S. capital during the War of 1812. Densely packed, small-font paragraphs integrate quotes and rhetorical questions: “Admiral Cockburn and his troops regroup to rest and care for their wounded. They will wait for dusk to make their next move./ Will that give Dolley enough time to escape?” An off-putting illustration of Madison as a potential “war prize” may disturb, but di Lauro otherwise offers atmospheric, shadow-emphasizing spreads rendered largely in red and blue. Extensive back matter offers brief epilogues for each character, additional historical anecdotes, and a bibliography. Ages 10–up. (May)