1776 by David Willis McCullough (2005, Hardcover)

McCullough uses first-person accounts in such a way as to make history come alive; as each character's words fit into the chronology of events of the American revolution, one can only be amazed at the hardships and tenacity it took not only to fight this war but to continue to believe and have faith. At one point, I recall thinking "it's a good thing I know who won because this looks like a lost cause!".

McCulloch takes us into the hearts and minds of our forebearers and provides much more insight than any American History class ever did; it should be must reading for high schoolers.