"Critical, respectful, engaging: exemplary history for children." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The book's format may be a good match for those with shorter attention spans, and permits it to be gratifyingly capacious in what it covers." --New York Times Book Review

"Well-researched, entertaining, and packed with facts." --Booklist

"Messner and Meconis provide a timely perspective on an important part of American history." --School Library Journal

"A history book for middle-graders that should be on everyone's (child and adult) to-read list." --Shelf Awareness

"Kate Messner serves up fun, fast history for kids who want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Absolutely smashing!" --Candace Fleming, award-wining author

"Informative and fun, eye-opening and entertaining. I wish I could have read History Smashers when I was in elementary school. I would have devoured them and developed a big appetite for even more of this sort of truth-telling." --Chris Barton, award-winning author