Horn Book Review
Photographs. A fascinating account of the genesis of the Bill of Rights, a careful explanation of the provisions, and the continuing and sometimes changing interpretation of these provisions in cases judged by the Supreme Court. An excellent source for reference or reports. Bibliography, index. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 7-12. Generally thought of as an integral part of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights was actually added, in part, as an incentive to encourage several reluctant states to ratify the Constitution. After recalling the political strife that brewed as these states contemplated ratification, this readable and cogent volume meticulously analyzes each of the first ten amendments. It also delineates the role of the Supreme Court in judicial review, providing background for the last eight chapters' round-up of Supreme Court decisions that interpret the amendments. Selecting pivotal cases that pertain to a number of key freedoms, Lindop explores such timely issues as abortion, the death penalty, discrimination, and juvenile protection. Illustrated with occasional portraits and news photographs, this concise, thoroughly researched study offers clear evidence of the Bill of Rights' durability and applicability to American life through the centuries. --Beth Herbert