Duel of the Ironclads: The Monitor Vs. the Virginia - Hardcover

O'Brien, Patrick

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0802788424 ISBN 13: 9780802788429

Publisher: Walker Childrens, 2003

Synopsis

On March 9, 1862, two unusual-looking iron-clad warships faced each other inbattle and changed naval warfare forever. When the American Civil War began, warships were still made of wood. Early in the war the Southern Confederates salvaged the sunken Union ship Merrimack, built an iron structure on the deck, and renamed her the CSS Virginia. When they were finished she was a brand new kind of warship-an ironclad. The Northern Union had also been secretly racing to build their own ironclad, the USS Monitor. The two ships were born almost simultaneously and met just one day after the unstoppable Virginia single-handedly destroyed two of the Union's mightiest wooden warships. By the time their historic showdown was through, the age of wooden warships was shattered forever.

About this title

About the Author:

Patrick O'Brien is the illustrator of A Wasp Is Not a Bee by Marilyn Singer. Mr. O'Brien makes his home in Baltimore, Maryland.

Patrick O'Brien is the illustrator of A Wasp Is Not a Bee by Marilyn Singer. Mr. O'Brien makes his home in Baltimore, Maryland.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4-8-The author/illustrator of The Hindenburg (Holt, 2000) and The Great Ships (Walker, 2001) spins a tale for young people of dueling military machines. The Monitor and the Virginia got a single-page treatment in The Great Ships; here O'Brien explicates the technological and political circumstances that brought these ironclads on the scene and changed the course of naval history. His succinct text should hold the attention of readers with an interest in naval history. The historical sections drag a bit, but the author cleverly switches back and forth between the political histories of these vessels and their more-fascinating technical aspects. A varying layout, offering several drawings and diagrams clearly linked to small sections of text as well as broader panoramic scenes accompanied by narrative text, allows readers to browse. Sadly, the design is cramped in places, and though obviously modeled after the layout in The Hindenburg, lacks the clarity and dramatic impact of that title. Readers not drawn to this subject matter will likely pass on this title, and those interested in follow-up material are on their own, as there's no bibliography. Still, this is a solid work for readers with a special interest.
Nina Lindsay, Oakland Public Library, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Walker Childrens
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0802788424
• ISBN 13: 9780802788429
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: O'Brien Patrick