HOW BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BECAME a REVOLUTIONARY in SEVEN (Not-So-Easy) STEPS : Review & Interview by Guest Blogger Janelle Ekpo

Today it is my pleasure to introduce a new teen blogger, Janelle Ekpo. The last time I saw Janelle she was about eight--but now she's in high school and a fantastic writer. I trust you'll enjoy her debut book review and her interview with the author, Gretchen Woelfle -- no stranger to my blog. 

REVIEW

If there were more books like How Benjamin Franklin Became a Revolutionary in Seven Steps by Gretchen Woelfle we would all be historians. This book is accessible for all ages and would work especially well for any middle school students studying American history and finding it a little dull. It’s a fun way to bring life to a history book.

Fun illustrations are by the talented illustrator, John O' Brien.

The first step Franklin learns is to not give too much for a whistle. As a child, Franklin met a boy with a whistle. He wanted it, and he used all the coins in his pocket to buy it. When Franklin’s family found out how he got the whistle, they laughed at him and told him the whistle was worth much less than he paid. Though this is a simple lesson, it is one of the cornerstones of what caused Franklin’s shift from Loyalist to Revolutionary. He waited for the British Empire to redeem itself, but it didn’t. He refused to pay for what he thought the Empire wasn’t worth.

The second lesson he learned was to push back when he felt that his rights and liberties were violated. He learned this as a young adult when he worked for his older brother’s newspaper. Franklin started writing snappy articles under the name Mrs. Silence Dogwood. In the articles, he questioned the British government and the way of life in general in the colonies. This, of course, is one of the defining characteristics of Franklin: when others were unhappy with the violation of their rights, he acted.

Thirdly, he mastered the art of writing to entertain and inform the public. As his career moved forward, Franklin worked hard to be the best printer in the colonies. He worked as an apprentice and then he opened his own shop. He continued to write. He began Poor Richard’s Almanack, which was full of farming advice, recipes, and, of course, amusing articles featuring the life of a poor man named Richard. These stories entertained the public and made Benjamin Franklin a well-known name. Writing was as important a skill then as it is now. Writing in its plainest form is to persuade, inform or entertain. From this it is clear that Franklin was not a Revolutionary simply because he spoke out against Great Britain - rather, he knew how to frame his words, how to draw the public to him, and how to win an argument.

These are the first three steps that led Benjamin Franklin from obscurity to fame, from being a Loyalist to being a Revolutionary. But these are not the only steps. There are four more. They aren’t listed here simply to encourage you to read the book for yourself and learn about the other four steps Franklin took to be a Revolutionary success. After all, if he could do it, couldn’t you too?

                                                    ****

Janelle hiding behind
a favorite book.

I’m a sophomore from South Carolina who is passionate about Christian fantasy, realistic fiction, and writing. I often help students with their papers and write book reviews to encourage people to read quality books. I’m working on growing my personal library!

INTERVIEW

Janelle: If you were to write another book like this one, who would you write about, and why?

Gretchen: I intend to write another book like this one – an illustrated biography, but of someone who is unknown in children’s literature. All my past biographies have featured such people, usually women and/or people of color. Benjamin Franklin, a very famous white man, is an aberration for me. I’ve got two new subjects in mind. Both took action against what they believed was a serious flaw in our society. I’ve done some research on both people, and am tempted to do more, but I’m in the midst of writing a much longer book and must finish that one first. Finishing a book is much harder and less exciting than starting a new one, but I must persevere!

Janelle: You worked at The Franklin Papers Project, and thus have interacted with many of his works. Which is your favorite?

Gretchen: My favorite: Franklin’s Autobiography, is the only book he wrote. He wrote it in four stages and never finished it. It presents his life up to 1757 when he first traveled to England as a lobbyist for Pennsylvania. His account of his family background, childhood, and young adulthood is especially appealing. He doesn’t hesitate to poke fun at himself and his youthful follies. We get a sense of Franklin’s boundless energy, curiosity, and love of life. Franklin’s letters and satiric essays are brilliant reads as well, and can be found in books like Benjamin Franklin: Selected Writings (NY: Fall River Press, 2010) His letters to his friends and family give us a glimpse of the private Franklin.

Janelle: What do you think is America’s biggest misconception about Franklin?

Gretchen: Many people who have only read or heard about the Autobiography, consider Franklin a self-serving, rather priggish materialist whose main goal in life was to work hard and become rich and famous. Mark Twain humorously laments that the book "brought affliction to millions of boys since whose fathers had read Franklin's pernicious biography".  Biographies of Franklin which draw on his letters and essays give us a fuller understanding of him. His voluminous correspondence to his many friends and family shows his deep affection for them. His essays display his brilliant wit and humor, as well as his passionate commitment to social and political justice. Young Benjamin Franklin: The Birth of Ingenuity by Nick Bunker; The Private Franklin: The Man and His Family by Claude-Anne Lopez and Eugenia W. Herbert; and Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill Lepore, all describe the compassionate, generous side of Benjamin Franklin.

Janelle: Do you think that if people were to apply these seven steps to their lives, we would have modern-day revolutionaries, and heralds of change?

Gretchen: How Benjamin Franklin Became A Revolutionary in Seven (Not-So-Easy) Steps is my interpretation of his responses to what life offered him. Through the steps I’ve chosen, we see him seizing opportunities to grow and expand his spheres of influence. We see him join with others for the common good. We see him learning from his mistakes, and adapting to changing times. All these qualities are important for everyone, wherever their talents lead them. 

Gretchen shared her book with her friend, Benjamin Franklin.
This sculpture by George Wayne Lundeen is in Glendale, CA. 

GIVEAWAY

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment by October 24 with your email address if you are new to my blog. Please be aware that I will approve your post before it goes live. If you are a teacher or home school educator, I'll enter your name twice. You can also email me to enter. U.S. addresses only. 

For the fun backstory behind this book, please visit Beth Anderson's blog and another chance to win this book.