I read this book because my daughter's fourth grade class is reading it to go along with their social studies unit on the Revolutionary War. It was a little uneven to me. The beginning and end, which take place in the present day didn't do much for me. I was mildly irritated by the unnecessary anti-girl remarks in a couple places. Yes, boys and girls are often unimpressed with each other at the age of the characters in the story, but I just didn't feel that it contributed to the story. Maybe it's just a little dated. Anyway, once the children time travel back to the Revolutionary War the story really takes off. I immensely enjoyed the descriptions of the soldiers and the adventures the children had in the past. Literature is such a great way to help students really imagine the historical events they are studying. I'm sure kids get tired of hearing their parents tell them that they should be grateful for what they have, but I guarantee after reading this story they will definitely appreciate their shoes and winter coats! I was happy that the book introduced some thought-provoking ideas about war, for example, that not all soldiers are fighting for lofty ideals. Some are fighting for economic reasons, to support their families. Finally, in one dramatic scene the young characters in the book are confronted with the ugly gray areas of war when some prejudiced and disrespectful Patriots kill a kind-hearted Hessian who had helped the children. I'm glad that my daughter will be able to start thinking about the hard truth that real life isn't as clear-cut as a good-guy vs. bad-guy cartoon. Overall, I think this was a great choice for the class.

This was such a great nostalgic read! I read this for the first time in 4th grade, and when I saw the book in the gift shop at work I had to pick it up and read it again!

Five kids on a camping trip climb into a rowboat and are transported back in time to the Revolutionary Way and Washington's battle at Trenton.

Excellent book and a terrific engaging way to teach history to kids, specifically 4th graders

I think kids who liked the Magic Tree House books when they were younger will like this story.

I enjoyed this book. I know it’s for kids, but I picked it up at a library sale and it was a good story. I liked how it dealt with deep issues like war, death, and morality on a child’s level without being too overly traumatizing. Would still probably recommend for late elementary or later, there are firsthand encounters with death by the main characters.

If you love historical fiction you’d love this! But just not for me

I'm not sure why but I vividly remember the boy having a pair of Reeboks and I didn't know those were a shoe brand until I read this book. I was a clueless 5th grader.

I didn't like this as much as I thought I might based on recommendations from others. I didn't love the characters, I didn't feel like I really had much vested interest in any of them. Additionally, the book is really anti-war rather than celebrating the revolution or the founding fathers. I expected it to be more about a-day-in-the-life and to an extent it was, but I kind of felt that the author went out of her way to point out that people die in war, and sometimes even the "good guys" aren't always that great.

Really with the time traveling aspect, it reminded me kind of the magic treehouse, but I didn't enjoy it as well as I did the treehouse books.

A cute children’s novel of historical fiction in the Scholastic books that gives true details of history in a new way through time travel for a group of friends.

George Washington's Socks is about 4 boys: Matt, Q, Tony, Hooter, and matt's little sister, katie. One day during one of their club meetings, (for their adventure club) , Matt had to bring katie along because at dinner he accidentally asked her. The club had decided to camp out in Tony's backyard. Then, Katie asks, " When is are adventure? ". "Um... this is it." says Matt a little embarrassed, (along with all of the other club members). They too though it would be something more.

They set off to the lake not sure what to do, or if they are allowed to be doing it. When they reach the lake, they see a boat. Then they see katie walking towards it. Matt yells, "KATIE, NO!", but she doesn't stop. She just turns to the boys and smiles, she smiles a very strange smile. the boys start running towards her. Al, of them feel this weird tingle inside that is pulling them. Then they all start smilling that same strange smile and get into the boat with katie. When they see land they see strange people and feel very cold. THey are definitely not in Nebraska anymore! :D

Why 4 stars? The book was great! But.. It got up on a rough start. The begining just wanted to make me put it down. So, thats the only reason why 4 stars. :)

George Washington's Socks, by Elvira Woodruff is chapter book about a group of five children, Hoot, Q, Matthew, Tony, and Katie that are members of an adventurer's club. While on a camp-out they plan to discuss the adventures of George Washington's army during the Revolutionary War, but instead they are drawn to a dark lake by an empty row-boat that floated to shore. Their curiosity gets the best of them and they climb into the boat which takes them to the middle of the misty lake. Katie falls out of the boat and goes missing but a short while later is rescued by a strong man that introduces himself as a member of the continental army. Much to their surprise and horror, they had somehow gone back in time to December 1776 and were on the frigid Delaware River with George Washington and his men! The children find themselves in the midst of the brutal Battle of Trenton in the Revolutionary War. They soon learn about the horrors of war and all that the revolutionary soldiers had to do to win the war. The group survives getting lost and being kidnapped by Hessian soldiers. They even get a chance to talk to George Washington. Finally, they are able to find the row-boat and go forward in time to safety.

This would be a good book to read aloud during a social studies unit on the Revolutionary War for third through sixth graders. Because the characters go back in time they often point out the differences between life in the 20th century and the 18th century. Students will be able to relate to this while learning valuable historical information. The book will make the topic of the war more interesting and students will be engaged during the lessons.

Summary:
In the beginning of this story, there is a group of kids who are apart of the Adventure Club. The group has their first meeting and decide to camp outside to read Great Adventures in History. Matt convinces his fiends to instead of a campout in the backyard, they should take a hike to the nearby lake. After they exchange stories of great legends of the Lake Levart, it seems they were suddenly are in the strange rowboat mystery the legend talked about. The group seemed to have travelled through time; they were in the Delaware River during 1776. They were face to face with George Washington and his men. The group accompanies through series of realistic historical events that happened in the Revolutionary War.

Evaluation:
What I love most about this book was the time travel idea. I like how modern kids get to tell about historical events from their point of view. The author did a good job of describing how harsh the conditions of war were and how brave the men who fought in the war were in an age appropriate manner. The book also had some funny parts to it that made the story a little less serious in parts, which allows students to enjoy it more. The harsh descriptions of war would make me lean toward 4th or 5th grade, and plus it also lines with their standard of the American Revolution.

Teaching Moment:
This book would be great for a read aloud during the American Revolution because it describes real events of the Revolutionary War. This allows students to put themselves in the characters shoes to better understand the events of history.