The Virginia Giant: The True Story of Peter Francisco

by Bobby Norfolk, Sherry Norfolk, Cait Brennan (Illustrator)

Overview

The Virginia Giant, a one-man army! Peter Francisco was believed to have had almost super-human strength. According to legend, George Washington said, "Without him we would have lost two crucial battles, perhaps the war, and with it our freedom." Francisco, a Portuguese immigrant, was raised outside Richmond and after hearing Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech, he joined the Virginia Colonial Militia. He was known for his battle-hardened skills, and his bravery at Brandywine, Stony Point, Camden and Guilford Courthouse led to stories of epic portions. Join authors Bobby and Sherry Norfolk as they separate fact from myth on topics ranging from pirates to redcoats to exciting acts of valor in this remarkable story of a true American hero.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626191174
Publisher:	History Press, The
Publication date:	08/01/2014
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	1180L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Bobby Norfolk, an internationally known story performer and teaching artist, is a three-time Emmy Award winner and Parents' Choice honoree. One of the most popular and dynamic story-educators in America today, Bobby was given the national Circle of Excellence Oracle Award, an honor presented by the National Storytelling Network, which recognizes the very best storytellers in the nation. Bobby travels both nationally and internationally presenting performances, keynotes and workshops. A past member of the board of directors for the National Storytelling Network, he currently serves on the St. Louis Storytelling Festival Advisory Council and is a featured artist in festivals worldwide. He founded Folktale Productions, a storytelling company, in 1987. His website is www.bobbynorfolk.com.

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2014
Gr 5–8—This biography takes a look at Peter Francisco, a Revolutionary War soldier of great height and girth. Little is known about Francisco's origins or how he came to the American Colonies. As a child, he spoke no English (only Portuguese) and was adopted by a Virginia landowner (though other versions of his biography state that he was born in the Azores and was indentured at age five to a sea captain who left him in Virginia). Francisco grew into a large, powerfully built young man: by age 15, he was 6'6" and weighed more than 250 pounds. He joined the army, enduring a hellish winter at Valley Forge, and worked hard and fought for his country. The description of Francisco's life makes this work sound as though it would be an enticing read. However, the book does nothing to highlight the man, who appears rarely among the dense pages detailing the causes of the war and individual battles. Research suggests that Peter used his size and character to contribute to the war, but this title provides little detail on this figure and his role in the American Revolution. Not recommended.—Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City

School Library Journal

★ 2014-05-29
Two veteran storytellers carefully separate legend from equally astonishing fact in this rousing introduction to Peter Francisco, a genuine supersoldier of the American Revolution.Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and with the brawn of a trained blacksmith, Francisco, the “Colossus of the Continental Line,” fought bravely in most of the war’s major battles—riding a horse named Tarleton after the British commander from whom he stole it and, according to witnesses, sometimes casting aside his firearm to wield an outsized broadsword. Though a foundling of mysterious origin, he went on in later years to enjoy a long life as a country gentleman and prominent war hero. Along with embedding their subject’s verified exploits into vivid accounts of the fledgling Colonial army’s trials and triumphs, the authors deliver a coherent picture of the war’s general progress. They also add numerous sidebar comments on topics from women and African-Americans who fought to step-by-step instructions for rapidly loading a musket, tuck in clearly labeled tall tales, and close with generous bibliographies for both young and general audiences. Brennan’s retro illustrations depict Francisco towering over his fellow troopers (although with pink skin rather than dark, as the text states); other illustrations include reproductions of paintings and photos of artifacts.How could such a larger-than-life figure have become so little known? He’s not likely to stay that way any longer. (glossary, timeline) (Biography. 11-13)

Kirkus Reviews