I Have Not Yet Begun to Fight

A Story about John Paul Jones

From the Series Creative Minds Biographies

  • Interest Level: Grade 4 - Grade 8
  • Reading Level: Grade 5

The Father of the U.S. Navy, John Paul Jones spent most of his lifetime trying to prove his ideas about naval tactics and training. Born in Scotland, he chose a life of adventure as a sea captain. He commanded cargo ships before settling in America and becoming an officer in the newly formed Continental Navy. Through persistence, training, and sheer nerve, Jones fought against the formidable British Navy and helped America win its freedom.

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978-1-57505-780-4
$25.99
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Interest Level Grade 4 - Grade 8
Reading Level Grade 5
Copyright 2004
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Millbrook Press ™
Language English
Number of Pages 64
Publication Date 2004-08-01
Reading Counts! Level 5.1
Text Type Narrative Nonfiction
BISACS JNF007020, JNF025190
Dewey 973.3'5'092
Graphics 1-color illustrations
Dimensions 5.875 x 8.5
Lexile 960
Guided Reading Level R
ATOS Reading Level 6.5
Accelerated Reader® Quiz 77898
Accelerated Reader® Points 1.0
Features Afterword, Author/Illustrator note, Awards, Bibliography/further reading, Index, Reviewed, Table of contents, and Teaching Guides

Author: Elaine Marie Alphin

Since her first novel for young readers appeared in 1991, Elaine Marie Alphin published 27 books for young people and one for adults (about writing for young people). Elaine wrote for readers of all ages, from Davy Crockett in Lerner's History Makers series for beginning readers up through teenage mysteries such as Counterfeit Son, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult mystery. Elaine loved research, and that love impacted all of her writing, from biographies for middle grade readers like I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight: A Story About John Paul Jones in the Creative Minds series through young adult fiction such as the history-inspired mystery, The Perfect Shot to the stand-alone nonfiction young adult book An Unspeakable Crime: The Prosecution and Persecution of Leo Frank.

Illustrator: Paul Casale

Lerner eSource™ offers free digital teaching and learning resources, including Common Core State Standards (CCSS) teaching guides. These guides, created by classroom teachers, offer short lessons and writing exercises that give students specific instruction and practice using Common Core skills and strategies. Lerner eSource also provides additional resources including online activities, downloadable/printable graphic organizers, and additional educational materials that would also support Common Core instruction. Download, share, pin, print, and save as many of these free resources as you like!

Creative Minds Biographies

Meet some of the world’s most creative minds! Written in story format, these episodic biographies give clear, straightforward accounts of historical figures’ lives. Each true story is accompanied by black-and-white illustrations. View available downloads →

Awards

  • Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year, Winner, 2004

Reviews

The Horn Book Guide

“Creative Minds Biography Series. These books adequately narrate the major events in the lives of their subjects: Alcott’s writing to provide for her family, Mozart’s musical precocity, Jones’s rise in naval rank and unwillingness to accept defeat, and Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin. Black-and-white drawings illustrate the texts, whose styles range from Aller’s reasonable fluidity to Allman’s rather abrupt account.”
The Horn Book Guide