Informational – The book starts out by laying down the foundations of Texas and San Antonio before the building of the Spanish Mission. The book explains how the area known as Texas was fought over by the French, Spanish, Mexican, and Ultimately the United States. The book also gives details of the uses of the Spanish Mission after Texas became a state and how the Alamo has become a symbol for independence to the people of Texas.

I visited the Alamo for the first time Labor Day weekend 2008. It was a moving experience and led me to read this book for my assignment. I used the trip and the book to tell my daughters, who are of Mexican decent, about the Alamo and why it is an important historical landmark. I like how the book used pictures along with illustrations to show how much the Alamo has changed over the years.

For a classroom activity, I would ask my students what freedom and independence means to them. I would also ask them what they would do to protect their freedom and independence.