History lovers will enjoy the short biographies of notable historical figures in the What a Character! series from Master Books.
What a Character! Notable Lives from History Series by Marilyn Boyer; AI illustrated. Master Books. 2023-2024.
- Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12
- Recommended for: Ages 10-15
Readers who love traditional history and students at the reading level of the popular Who Was? series will enjoy the What a Character! series from Master Books. The titles include Inventors & Scientists, America’s Famous Spies, Heroes of the War for Independence, Extraordinary Animal Heroes, Famous Women in History, and several others.
Boyer introduces ten subjects in each book; some are well-known, while other names will be unfamiliar, providing fresh appreciation for history. The narratives in each chapter are engaging and short enough to be read in one sitting, and when appropriate, an individual’s Christian faith is mentioned. Vocabulary definitions are provided in helpful text boxes. The quality of the AI-generated art in earlier volumes is noticeably inconsistent, while in the more recent books, the detailed cartoons are generally more uniform. Most young readers won’t be bothered by this.
Bottom Line: Overall, the What a Character! series is a nice addition to a home or school library
Related Reading at Redeemed Reader
- Review: Three history picture books that also work for this age group!
- Review: Check out these award-winning history books for middle grades.
- Review: A starred review for Evangelical Heroes by Joel Beeke and Douglas Bond (a great companion to the What a Character! series)
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You can order a boxed set of the entire series from Amazon.
Alternatively, here are links to individual volumes:
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