Holt Call to Freedom: Student Edition Grades 6-8 Beginnings to 1877 2003

First off, I bought this text in order to replace my daughter's stolen copy and bought an extra copy (yes, I have too much time on my hands) to "bone up on my Texas History." For this second purpose, it wasn't too helpful. Although subtitled as the "Texas Edition," it is really a US history text with some customized paragraphs and vignettes touching on Texas. Early chapters featured explorers and settlers specific to the Texas Region. Texas-specific history doesn't really figure in here--there's not even a chapter devoted to Texas. I do realize the world doesn't revolve around Texas, but I found myself referring to the front cover wondering how the publisher could claim "Texas Edition." As a US History textbook for middle school students, it seems to do a better-than-adequate-job of presenting the material. I found it to be even-handed and without strong right or left bias. Pages were colorful, examples and additional callout boxes helped clarify and add to the material. My one sentence review: Solid US History Text, Texas History--Not So Much.