Why Longfellow Lied: The Truth About Paul Revere's Midnight Ride

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

The truth is revealed behind Longfellow's famous poem "Paul Revere's Ride" in this historical middle-grade nonfiction book, perfect for fans of Steve Sheinkin. Now in paperback!

Do you know how historically inaccurate "Paul Revere's Ride" is? And do you know why? Author Jeff Lantos pulls apart Longfellow's poem, tells the real story about Paul Revere's historic ride, and sets the record right. Not only that, he lays out when and why Longfellow wrote his poem and explains how without it, many of us wouldn't know much about Revere at all. This is Steve Sheinkin for the younger set, complete with an American mystery and a look at two important moments in the history of our country.

A 2022 ILA Children's and Young Adults' Book Awards Honor recipient.

Story Locale:Massachusetts

About the Author

Jeff Lantos was a fifth-grade teacher in Pacific Palisades, California, where he often wrote history-based musicals for his students to perform. A UCLA study showed that his students' retention of history is higher than their peers. He was nominated for a 2015 Excellence in Theatre Education Award from the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University. He holds a degree from Brown University and has worked producing musicals on Broadway. Why Longfellow Lied is his first book.

Author Residence: Marina del Rey, CA

Author Hometown: Johnstown, PA