The American Revolution was an undoubtedly turbulent time. Calls for rebellion, insurrection and violence against the ruling government were widespread. Throughout the 13 British Colonies in North America many factions argued over how the King of England and the British Parliament were governing them and what needed to change.
Written for middle- to high-school audiences, Choosing Sides is a creative nonfiction account of the real-life story of Michael Bernard Houseal and his family, all immigrants from Germany who lived in the Colonies during the Revolution. During the story’s action, Michael is the teen-aged son of Reverend Bernard Houseal, a historic figure living at the time of George Washington who advocated for a peaceful resolution between the colonists and British rule—rather than succumb to the violent Revolution. The book itself is a retrospective, told through the first-person reflections of an older Michael Houseal as he recounts his family’s adventures and the history they helped to create. Choosing Sides explores the values, cultures and politics of Michael’s lifetime, providing readers with intimate access to his thoughts and decision-making as he determines his own course of action and the choices that lead him to it.
This story is written by Brian Lee Houseal, a descendant of Michael Houseal. Today, our country and the world are rapidly changing while at the same time reflecting many of the lessons, mistakes and successes of the past. Tracking two grounding questions, “Why am I here” and “Whose side am I on?”, this book aims to embody, contextualize, and even personalize an historic event in the hopes that readers will discover and explore their own personal histories, the decisions that informed them and the impact each individual has on the future. Choosing Sides is a demonstrative call to increase civics education in American classrooms and to require two years of national service for all citizens between the ages of 18 and 26.
