あらすじ
The Legacy is a historical biography with the focus on helping students understand that history shapes people. It encourages students to look at historical and geographical events in relationship to the effect on families. The chapters are short and filled with authentic photos and documents as illustrations to strengthen the reader's connection with the family and it's experiences. The main character, Jacob, is sad and angry about the death of his grandfather and all the changes that are happening in his world. He doesn't understand how his grandmother, mother, and older sisters seem to just accept the changes when everything is so different. Jacob's grandfather was a World War II veteran and as the family travels to Fort Gibson for the burial Jacob listens to his grandmother talk about the past and learns a lot about his family history. As his grandmother talks, Jacob begins to understand the patriotism and sacrifice necessary for American freedom. The special memories he has of his grandfather take on a new meaning. He discovers that he has been given a special legacy and a responsibility for the future. The term legacy is used in both the broad concept of historical events shaping destiny and in the personal concept of family culture. A sub theme is the issue of coping with the death of a family member. The book provides a model for dealing with the death of a grandparent and developing a value system that appreciates human relationships and generational influence.
