The Marquis is the bomb. It is amazing what he helped accomplish in America but I had no idea of his level of involvement back home in France. He is the man!

When I toured Monticello, Montpelier, and Mount Vernon, all the guides relayed stories of our founding fathers and Lafayette. I simply had to learn more about him and his relationships with our early presidents. This book fit the bill.

Why Not, Lafayette? is a lively account of [to quote the back cover] "A man who threw off the boundaries imposed upon him to stand up for what he believed was right, the Marquis de Lafayette grew from an idealistic young man searching for honor and glory, into an idealistic statesman with rock-solid principles of liberty."

I enjoyed learning this interesting piece of American history.

Although Lafayette was a Frenchman, it is not a misnomer to place him in a series called Unforgettable Americans.

I used this book for my project and my partner and I basically used it for all our resources.

So to all those wanting to know about Lafayette, read this book!!!

I genuinely enjoyed this book. It was rich in history but told in a way that was engaging.

Great book.

Do you remember who Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier was? He is very famous in American history, but you probably know him better as the Marquis de Lafayette, or, as he preferred to be called, just Lafayette, who was born Sept. 6, 1757. His father died before he was two years old and his mother and grandfather died when he was twelve, leaving him to inherit their fortune under the guardianship of his great-grandfather. At fourteen years old, he joined the French Military and, at age sixteen, married Marie Adrienne Francoise de Noailles, whose family was related to King Louis XVI. At nineteen, against the wishes of his great-grandfather, his father-in-law, and the King, he purchased a ship and persuaded several French officers to accompany him to fight in the American Revolution.

And, the rest, as they say, is history. Colonial General George Washington appointed Lafayette a major general. Wounded at Brandywine, the young Frenchman endured the freezing winter at Valley Forge, and then saw action at Barren Hill and Rhode Island. Returning to France for as time, he, along with Ben Franklin, was able to secure troops and supplies from the French government for the American cause which helped to force Cornwallis to surrender at Yorktown. By then Lafayette was again in America and present for the surrender. Back in France, Lafayette upheld the ideals of liberty all through the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, and the rule of Napoleon, though he spent five years in an Austrian prison. Following his release, in 1824, President James Monroe invited Lafayette to the United States as the "nation's guest,” and during the trip, he visited all twenty-four states.

Jean Fritz is a wonderful author. We have read and liked many of her biographies for children, such as George Washington's Breakfast; And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?; Where Was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May?; Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?; Just A Few Words, Mr. Lincoln; The Double Life of Pocahontas; and Harriet Beecher Stow and the Beecher Preachers. We have also enjoyed a few of her young people’s novels, such as Early Thunder; The Cabin Faced West; and Brady. Some parents might want to know that George Washington is quoted as having called the hapless General Charles Lee a “d*** poltroon.” It is said that Lafayette had never heard Washington swear before, “but obviously he could.” Lafayette was truly a remarkable character in history. It is no wonder that General John J. Pershing is reported to have said when he and his armies landed in France during World War I to help the French against the attacks of Kaiser Bill’s Germany and its allies, “Lafayette, we are here.”

This isn't as compelling as some of Jean Fritz's work, but it is very readable and full of information. The inclusion of excerpted letters and speeches is really cool to see in a children's book--and young Lafayette is very enjoyable in those letters.

Great book for kids. Most towns named "Fayette" are named for him and his name is on many historical sites--however he was a French citizen. This was a quick read to help you understand his important influence on the United States.

I finished this book quickly, and I loved reading every word! This was an easy read, and a fun one as well. I learned so much about Lafayette, and I actually cried at a couple of very heartwarming parts. The author is funny, concise, and all-around entertaining--something more history writers could benefit from!

I’m now pretty fascinated by Lafayette’s life and would love to read more about him.

This is a kid's book but it gives a good synopsis of Lafayette in France and does it in an engaging way.