Milton Meltzer’s “The Bill of Rights: How We Got It and What It Means,” is an overview of the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the Unite States known as the Bill of Rights. He covers its origins, the amendments themselves, and their applications. In the foreword, Meltzer emphasizes to the young reader the importance of the Bill of Rights. This is an important point, maybe one that could have been even deeper and made into a concluding chapter. In discussing the background of the Bill of Rights, Meltzer draws on our nation’s English pedigree. He goes way back to 1215 and the Magna Carta and traces up until the writing and ratification of our nation’s constitution. Then, each of the ten are stated and briefly explained. The remainder of the book is spent discussing the applications and some of the key controversies of each of the amendments.

The Bill of Rights is an important topic for the up-and-coming student. While it is part of what makes the U.S. unique and special, the desire for rights is something we share with the world. It is also important that students understanding that the ideas behind our government were not formed in a vacuum. Overall, Meltzer’s book is a good starting point for the young reader looking to learn about the Bill of Rights. The background information is critical, though dry at times and Meltzer’s does a fine job at this. In the end, I feel the reader comes away with a sound foundation of knowledge, and the book can serve as a reference for students who need to refresh themselves on one amendment or the other. The book serves its purpose, and those with a desire for greater depth on any point should look elsewhere. ( )