BETSY ROSS The American Flag and Life in a Young America

Suzy Myers's bouncy, upbeat narration enthusiastically leads us through the details of Betsy Ross's life and the Revolutionary War era—covering everything from the Boston Tea Party to how Ross's Quaker background influenced her life. Over her 85 years, Ross had three marriages, made sacrifices for her country despite her religion's antiwar beliefs, and ran an upholstery shop in a time when women did not own businesses. Most interesting is how the Ross family remembrances conflict with historical accounts. Betsy, for example, told of meeting with George Washington, but this isn’t substantiated in his thorough journal. And only her family's stories support the claim that she made the American flag. Discussions and controversies will intrigue young listeners as much as the historical recounting. S.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2009]