It Happened in Michigan: Stories of Events and People that Shaped Great Lakes State History (It Happened In Series)

This book gives good detail and has powerful stories of how Michigan got to where it is now. The chapter that stood out to me the most was on page 72, 1908 Automobile Suits Public to a “T”. I love this chapter because I always loved learning about the past of cars, and this was such a cool chapter. This chapter also talked about the Model T, of course, and Henry Ford. In this book you discover what has happened in Michigan over the years. From the stories of the Model T to the stories of the Mackinaw Bridge, and the World Cup that was played in Pontiac, Michigan in 1994. This is a nonfiction book with some illustrations that are helpful to the reader. There are around 180 pages in the book and is pretty easy to read. The author of this book has worked as a reporter and news anchor in radio, television, and newspapers for many years in the Detroit area. Colleen Burcar was also the author of a few other books. This book is very organized and easy to find the chapters. This book will intrigue the teenage minds and let them explore the state of Michigan. All the facts in this book are accurate and the author even put the resources in the back. This book would be great in a public or school library. This is a great book even if you do not live in Michigan because there is also a map in the front of the book. My class and I read this book as an assignment and I am glad we did, as I learned so much about Michigan that I had no clue about. I would use powerful to describe this book because the stories in the book have a strong effect on people’s thoughts or even feelings on how it affected the world today. I would also use captivating because its capable of attracting and holding interest of the reader. The stories throughout the book grip your interest and makes you never want to stop reading it. Finally, thought provoking. This is because the book causes people to seriously think about what has happened in Michigan. Some of the stories in the book make you think, “That really happened here in Michigan!?”. From reading this book I know a lot more about Michigan than I did before. I am glad that I read this book because Michigan does actually have some cool stories. Someone who wants to learn more about their state would love this book and/or series. I never knew Michigan, the plain old Michigan that I thought was boring, could be so interesting to myself and/or another reader. This book was so intriguing and I hope you will like it too!

It happened in Michigan is a great history book. I learned so much about the state I have grown up in and it is fascinating, from 1679 when The Griffon to 1994 when the silver dome in Pontiac was the first field with indoor grass. This book is packed with information. I think this book is a great tool to use in any class because it highlights major events that shaped Michigan into what it is today. One chapter that really stood out to me was “1957 Bridging the Gap” this chapter talks about the designing and building of the Mackinac Bridge. I enjoyed reading this chapter because it explained the challenges that went into building, at the time, the longest suspension bridge in the world. It is amazing how something built this long ago is still under heavy use today and has become a staple of the state of Michigan. Overall, I think this book is a great addition to a classroom or bookshelf.

Stella's review: It Happened in Michigan is basically about what the title says, different events that happened in Michigan. This is a non-fiction history book, and would be great for anyone interested in learning more about Michigan. Anyone from middle school to adulthood could read this; with easy to comprehend chapters and cute illustrations. Every chapter is in chronological order, starting in the late 1600s and ending in the late 90’s, and they are all about something different too. I read this book for a Michigan History class, and I was very surprised at how much new information I learned! There were many stories that I had never heard before, and I found them all very interesting. I think that the chapters were very engaging and exciting. My personal favorite chapter was “Assassinating a King”, about James Jesse Strang; who “ruled” Beaver Island in Lake Michigan. I found it quite interesting because it was the only monarchy in the U.S. Overall, this was a fantastic book and I enjoyed reading it! Jane's review: It Happened in Michigan by Colleen Burcar is a nonfiction book about historical events that took place in Michigan. It is fairly short with appealing illustrations and is easy to read. I think that this book would be good for middle school age children to adults. It progresses in chronological order, starting with the year 1671 and ending with 1994. My favorite chapter is Japanese balloon bombs. It is very fascinating, and I didn’t get bored while reading it. In this story a strange balloon was discovered, which turned out to be a balloon bomb sent by Japan to the United States. I read this book for a class, and I learned a lot about Michigan that I didn’t know before. I would recommend this book to a Michigander, because it talks about historical events in Michigan. In all, this is an engaging and well-written book!

It Happened in Michigan by Colleen Burcar is a non-fiction read. It is a very informative book for anyone who wants to learn about Michigan’s history. The author covers the era from 1671 to 1994. The book is geared for middle to high school students. It is an easy book to read, and the writer keeps the topics she covers very interesting. I read this book for a high school class and feel that it would be a great addition to any school or public library. I was surprised to learn how much about Michigan there was to discover. One of the most interesting chapters that I read was the Storm of 1913. It discussed the history of Michigan’s shipping trade that usually took place in the month of November. Several storms were mentioned throughout history, but this storm lasted the longest and surpassed all others. I highly recommend reading the book to find out how the storm impacted the shipping trade that year and to learn many more thought-provoking facts about Michigan

I’m writing this review as a part of my Michigan History class assignment. This Book is a Historical nonfiction book. It covers interesting events in Michigan’s history from 1671-1994. It is a part of a series of books called “It Happened in…” The series focuses on different states, and each one has a different author. The chapters are short, no more than 5 pages each, but they are very engaging. It is an easy book to read, appropriate for upper grades (grade 7 and up). The book is accurate in its writing; I was able to find several pictures of various events it talks about. I think this is a great book for a classroom setting, as that’s how I was introduced to it, and I enjoyed it. If you are wondering if there are any illustrations, there are some small ones at the beginning of each chapter, but they are nothing special. Some of the chapters cover very tragic events, such as planes and boats being destroyed due to severe weather. My favorite chapter was about Henry Ford and the influence of the Model T. Overall, this book was a fun read, and I highly recommend it. I hope this review is helpful.