America As It Happened by What on Earth!,The Washington Post

History is boring when presented as a list of events and dates. Making it more like a story has garnered more interest. This book presents historical events as news articles, written in the present tense as if the reporter were witnessing the events. The use of headlines and reporting style, as well as color pictures, breaks the events into smaller pieces and allows readers to read in smaller chunks.

The book starts with the first human settlements, and ends with America celebrating its 250th year of independence (Jly/2026). The last accurately reported news entry is May 2025, with the end of Trump’s 100 days in office. Each two-page spread contains news headlines from that period. The space each headline takes is indicative of that event’s importance. The bottom has a timeline of events corresponding to that period. Liberally sprinkled throughout the book are notes from the future that put the event in perspective based on later events. There are also QR codes that link to podcasts from the Washington Post related to the subject (some related to prehistoric events).

The blend of reporting stories and short podcasts is an innovative way to present history, and attempt to reel in recalcitrant readers. The book is suitable for middle school students and general readers interested in American history.