Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers: The Texas Victory That Changed American History by Brian Kilmeade is a book I discovered quite by accident. I was searching Libby looking for something good and it popped up. Two of the things I love are history and Texas – what could be better than a book about Texas history?

Having no clue who Brian Kilmeade was, imagine my surprise when I found myself watching FOX and Friends (for the first time ever) and saw the name. Surely, this news guy didn’t write a book about Texas history? It was confirmed as a few minutes into the show, he was asked about his “new book.” I don’t know why it surprised me as I had read many of the Bill O’Reilly books (Martin Dugard appears to be the actual writer of those,) surely this one would be a good read too.

Boy, was it! I loved this book and devoured the audible version (all 6.5 hours) on a weekend drive to Galveston. I really like Kilmeade’s writing style and the information was spot on. Another source of Texas history that I have loved is a podcast called Wise About Texas by Justice Ken Wise. (many of the stories on that podcast seem as though taken from Kilmeade’s book – albeit expanded more in the podcast.)

After a little more research, I realized he had written a couple other books that I read earlier (and LOVED.) Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates is another of his great reads that I absolutely loved.

I am not sure if Texas history is still required in the 7th grade across the Lone Star State but when I grew up it was. This book could be the bulk of the curriculum for that class. At the very least, it should be required reading before anyone graduates from school in Texas. These are stories that bear telling and need to be remembered. Not just in the “remember the Alamo” way – in the way that it shows what sacrifice (regardless of initial motivation) is required to do great things. It shows why Texas is such an integral part of the American story. It shows that a few dedicated individuals can change the history of the world. It shows why Texans have earned the right to brag a little.

by Chris Doelle