Samuel Sewall was one of the few early Americans to record his day to day thoughts in a diary. It ia a very intimate look into his life as he never intended for anyone to ever read it. This gives us a unique and accurate glimpse into the mind of a second-generation New England Puritan. "The Diary and Life of Samuel Sewall" highlights Sewall's shift away from religion and toward a more political ideology. Samuel Sewall was also one of the judges in the infamous Salem witch trials. Yazawa has reproduced specific years from Sewall's diary in their entirety. In effort to bridge the gaps between years, Yazawa has included several introductions. Overall, this was an enjoyable and informative read. It brings the Puritan world to life throught the eyes of an influential Boston man.

Graham has crafted a warm and engaging portrait of family life among 18c. New England merchants and ministers. She reviews and challenges much past scholarship on childhood in early modern Europe and America. Popular readers may find the historiographical discussion tedious, but professional historians, local historians, and genealogists will appreciate Graham's painstaking research and common-sense assessment of Puritan parents' attitudes towards their children.