They were fighting for Texas-fighting for the land they called home. For twelve long days, the men and women inside an old mission known as the Alamo defended it against the soldiers who surrounded them. But President Santa Anna was just as determined to keep Texas part of Mexico. He sent a message to the Texians behind the fortress walls-there would be no mercy for those inside. The Texians hung on as they waited for more men and supplies to come to their rescue. But no help came. Finally, in the predawn darkness of March 6, 1836, thousands of Mexican soldiers poured over the walls of the Alamo. The gruesome battle that followed would prove to be a turning point in American history. And "Remember the Alamo!" would become the battle cry of the fight of Texas independence. The gripping story of the Alamo is told here through the eyes of two real-life survivors of the siege and battle-eight-year-old Enrique Esparza and Susanna Dickinson, the mother of baby Angelina.
"Tanaka sandwiches a blow-by-blow account of the final day of the renowned siege between a discussion of the rebellion's causes and an analysis of the battle's aftermath…Engrossing."
Booklist
"The work paints a clear, honest, and often disturbing portrait of life during the siege, one that a distanced, more abstract telling could not provide…A thoughtful, well-written work that will help students witness history in a more powerful way."
Children's Literature
"A vivid description of the twelve-day siege and the ultimate slaughter of the outnumbered Texians. Prominent figures present during the siege and lesser-known figures are described well, giving a first-person intimacy to the tragedy…An excellent resource."
