Reviews and Press for Al Frazza’s History Work,
Including his New Book State of Revolution

FIVE STAR REVIEW

“This fascinating little book could be called The Site that Al Built. Instead, it is named State of Revolution: My Seven-and-a-Half Year Journey Through Revolutionary War New Jersey. This book is the history of Al Frazza’s travels and research to make his historical website concerning New Jersey’s part in the Revolutionary War a reality. Let me hasten to say, the book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in history and how historians go about mining facts from primary sources. Al spent over seven years traversing the great state of New Jersey. He visited over 600 historical sites, then documented the relationship of the sites to the Revolutionary War on his website. Even if you are not into history, you will enjoy reading this book.

“After spending 10,000 hours of research, thousands of miles of travel, and untold misery in a hot car, what do you get? If you are Al Frazza, you get a fantastic website about the American Revolutionary War and its events in New Jersey. State of Revolution is a gold mine of information for anyone writing their American History Master’s Capstone Project. Al was not writing an academic paper, but unknowingly, he produced a book that I wish I’d had when I did my history capstone project. He explains how he developed the website, and in his explanation, he gives guidance for historical research. Al shares anecdotes from his field research that keep the book moving and interesting. He does not write in a dry academic manner but rather as if he is talking to the reader as a friend.​“
– Philip Van Heusen for Readers’ Favorite

FIVE STAR REVIEW

“More than two hundred years after the last shots of the Revolutionary War were fired, remnants of the war can still be found in many places besides history books. Al Frazza, motivated by a love of history, discovers this in a very personal way. Armed with little more than a car, a camera and a map, Frazza embarks on a project that takes him to the most rare and overlooked historical sites in New Jersey. The author’s goal, which sounds deceptively simple, is to explore and chronicle Revolutionary War sites in his home state and populate a website with his findings. However, as shown in State of Revolution, sometimes there is far more to a project than meets the eye. This book not only documents Frazza’s travel adventures, but also broadens readers’ horizons by exposing them to a rare appreciation for history and a unique perspective of the world.

“At its core, State of Revolution is a memoir that covers nearly eight years of the author’s life. More than that, however, this story of an amateur historian taking on an immense project and accomplishing a monumental task is one that will educate, entertain and motivate. While together comprising an unpredictable flow to the overall narrative arc, each vividly described chapter treats readers to a distinct, enriching experience. A wide variety of topics are explored, ranging from Washington’s army surviving a bitter and brutal 1779-1780 winter in Morristown to a large-scale police convergence surrounding the author after a minor traffic infraction. The historical accounts are presented in a manner far removed from the dry textbook-style history that many of us remember from school, as Frazza brings them alive by sharing the challenges, humor, despair, elation, and insightful discoveries he experiences during his extensive research. Transcending the mere development of a war memorial website, this book is a must read for those interested in New Jersey history or the Revolutionary War. For the rest of us, State of Revolution is a thoughtful, informative and fulfilling book that is sure to inspire you to explore the peculiarities and backstories of your part of the globe.​”
– Dave Allen for Indies Today

“Al Frazza’s State of Revolution is an enthralling, entertaining, and informative memoir, travelogue, and history lesson all in one. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and suggest you pick it up without delay, hit the road with the author, and get ready for an exciting ride. I highly recommend this book for Revolutionary War enthusiasts and lovers of history, New Jersey, and adventure in general.”
– David Brighouse, Owner/Publisher of TAPinto Rahway

“We join the author on the road as he visits about 650 historic locations, highlighting thousands of people, buildings, monuments, cemeteries, and battlefields. State of Revolution is equally educational, humorous, inspiring, and a paean to New Jersey.

“As a long-time user of Frazza’s site, I was excited to learn of the book. I was not disappointed. As a former longtime NJ resident and an American Revolution Round Table president, I highly recommend that you join Frazza on this enlightening journey for both the history and the fun. Huzza!”
– Bill Welsch, President of American Revolution Round Table of Richmond, and Co-Founder of the Congress of American Revolution Round Tables

“Al Frazza’s Revolutionary War New Jersey was my go-to source as I drove around the Garden State for a traveling history of the war that made us who we are.  And the story of how Frazza created his matchless online guide – working by himself, over more than seven years, inspired by his love for his home state – is as fascinating as the information-rich website itself.”
– Bob Thompson, author of Revolutionary Roads: Searching for the War That Made America Independent… and All the Places It Could Have Gone Terribly Wrong.

“Al Frazza, the author, has written a highly entertaining story of his efforts and successes in accomplishing his goal of documenting the importance of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War. The majority of the battles in our War for Independence took place in our state. Al took on an effort to create a website that provided all the pertinent facts surrounding those battles. However, the book is not a history book. It is his story of his life during the period he went exploring.

“As is the case with anyone who attempts to record the history of a particular period, otherwise unknown and seemingly insignificant facts grow in significance to the telling of the full story. As new facts were uncovered, they expanded the time he set to complete his goal. The book is a real page turner full of surprise discoveries, moments of happiness and joy, and periods of disaster and sadness. Moreover, the warm and dedicated personality of the author comes through on every page. You find yourself caught up in the emotions, cheering for his successes and sharing his losses. Whether you are into history or a casual observer of the world around you, this book will move you and convince you that your life, your struggles, and your successes are history.

“Read the book! The words and experiences of this phenomenal writer will leave you convinced that you never really understood history before. It is a journey worth taking.”
– Leon S. Kish, President of the Historic Restoration Trust of Nutley, Kingsland Manor Historic Trust

“Al Frazza’s book, State of the Revolution, is one man’s account of his mission to find every Revolutionary War marker, sign, monument, historic building, etc. that exists in the state of New Jersey. His dedication is amazing and the seven-year account shows the joy he took in his travels, even when they ended up in wrong turns, which never stopped Frazza for long. Along the way, his travels give telling insights into the hearts and minds of New Jersey residents during that long-ago time of the Revolutionary War. All of it is told with warmth and understanding that never failed to hold my interest.”
– Beverly Haaf, Editor of The Beverly Bee Newspaper, Burlington County, NJ

​New Jersey’s Revolutionary War History Honored In Website, Book
Al Frazza visited close to 650 sites for his “Revolutionary War New Jersey” website, and recently published a book about his journey.

“Al Frazza didn’t set out to spend more than seven years visiting hundreds of Revolutionary War historical sites across New Jersey (by himself). Or to make a huge website. Or to write a book about his experience. But Frazza… has done all three: he visited close to 650 historic sites in the Garden State and compiled a huge amount of research on his website, Revolutionary War New Jersey.

“And he’s got a book, which came out in February.

“… It was important to him, he said, to do the research properly. There was so much Revolutionary War history in his home state.”
–  Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, From the Patch Across New Jersey article “New Jersey’s Revolutionary War History Honored In Website, Book“, published April 28, 2022.
Click Here To Read the Full Article

“New Jersey has numerous historic war sites, but until recently, there was no central location that listed all of them… Al Frazza compiled the list, first on a website, and most recently in a book. All important historic Revolutionary War sites in the state are included in the effort, which he first thought would take a few months but actually turned into a seven-year journey.

“Frazza’s compilation of sites is very timely, historians say, as the country prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.”
–  Matt Fagan, From the article “Want To Check Out All Revolutionary War Sites In NJ? Now There’s A List“, published in the April 20, 2022 print and online editions of Gannett newspapers and magazines throughout NJ, including NorthJersey.com, The Record, The Herald News, The Asbury Park Press, The Burlington County Times, The New Jersey Herald, The Courier News, and Wayne Magazine.

“Al Frazza is a photographer, researcher, and historian who took it upon himself to create a website that illustrates the important role that the state of New Jersey played in the Revolutionary War. He is a meticulous historian who spent about seven years putting that project together. He personally took every photo on the site, and can vouch for the authenticity of every single piece of evidence that he presents. It’s an amazing resource.”
–  Ashley Ziccardi, regent of the Chinkchewunska Chapter of the National Society of the Daughter of the American Revolution, quoted in the February 26, 2018 edition of the New Jersey Herald

“State of Revolution details the author’s fascinating journey through New Jersey. Frazza was highly interested in the history of his home state of New Jersey, he was especially fascinated by the historical monuments that were from the Revolutionary War. After he explored nearly 650 historic locations, he created the Revolutionary War New Jersey website.

“Author Al Frazza successfully shows both his trials and triumphs on his journey. It is refreshing to read about the author’s passion for learning more about the history of his hometown. I enjoyed reading about the author’s process and even though he was unsure if he would be able to complete this journey he continued on.

“It’s inspiring to see the author take his lack of experience as a historian and create a website that is dedicated to teaching others about the history of the New Jersey Revolutionary War. While I enjoyed this enlightening book, I would have liked to have seen some of the pictures that the author took on his travels to be incorporated in the book as I think it would enhance the reader’s experience.

“Frazza does an excellent job of teaching readers about history while keeping the reader entertained with compelling storytelling. I was engaged from the turn of the first page. It was like I embarked on my own journey through New Jersey. This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to travel, readers who are interested in history, and anyone living in New Jersey that wants a fresh perspective on the state.

“State of Revolution is a fascinating travelogue that colors an intriguing memoir with interesting historical facts. Author Al Frazza has written a fantastic book for anyone who wants to broaden their horizons and learn something new about a place and a person they might not have known about otherwise.”
–  Literary Titan

“Sharing local history with patrons was always a pleasant experience. I found it even more so when I met Al Frazza. He visited the Library and expressed interest in Bound Brook and South Bound Brook historic sites. Al was in the midst of creating his massive website, RevolutionaryWarNewJersey.com. His passion for the topic was evident from the start. We discussed the Old Stone Bridge, the Old Presbyterian Graveyard and the Revolutionary War veterans interred there and the Frelinghuysen Tavern site, to name a few.

“Al pursued authentic sources for his descriptions of sites and verified every detail. He asked pointed questions with an aim for accuracy. His source notes add another important dimension to the integrity of the website. Clearly, his knowledge on the topic is vast. You can trust that RevolutionaryWarNewJersey.com is an authoritative source of information on 18th century New Jersey, the ‘Crossroads of the American Revolution.’”
– Mary C. Nelson, Local History Librarian (Retired), Bound Brook Memorial Library Branch, Somerset County Library System of New Jersey; Co-author of The Old Presbyterian Graveyard, Bound Brook, New Jersey: A Resource

“A great source to learn more about all of the state’s relevant sites is revolutionarywarnewjersey.com”
– Passaic Valley Today, August 23, 2018, “Tapping Into History Could Bring NJ More Tourist Dollars”

“The Chinkchewunska Chapter 2018 History Award is presented to Al Frazza in recognition of his outstanding dedication to the preservation and sharing of New Jersey History.

“The Chinkchewunska Chapter History Award is given annually to an individual or group who has demonstrated outstanding volunteer work in some aspect of local history. This year we are proud to present this award to Al Frazza.

“Webster’s Dictionary defines an historian as ‘a student or writer of history.’ While Al certainly fits that description, I’d add that he is also a ‘liver and breather’ of history. He is responsible for the research, writing, photography, and design of the website RevolutionaryWarNewJersey.com.

“This modest man totally immersed himself in what became a 7 year-long ‘labor of love’, creating from primary sources and photographs, all taken personally by him, a resource for anyone interested in learning about the role of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War. This ‘Ultimate Field Guide to New Jersey’s Revolutionary War Historic Sites’ is a must for anyone who understands that history is often made in our own backyard.

“Mr. Frazza knows that the best way to learn about history is to walk where history was made. Revolutionary War sites in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties are featured. I personally felt like I was walking through a doorway to New Jersey’s past as I browsed the website… We congratulate this dedicated scholar of History.“
–  The Chinkchewunska Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution

“One particular resident’s keen interest of the American Revolutionary War period sparked an idea – to share his passion with others. His goal was to literally bring the past alive on a website.

“Al Frazza, a township resident, has made it easy to take a virtual walk and tour through historic sites and landmarks in the state, without ever having to step foot there. After all, he’s done all the legwork already.

“Frazza’s two loves, that of history and that of New Jersey, has come together in his website called ‘RevolutionaryWarNewJersey.com. The extensive listing ranges in photos and research on vrious sites that he has covered over the past several years.

“Frazza conducted and compiled online field guides containing archive photographs, information and directions for hundreds of Revolutionary War sites. He has also mapped out sites that don’t necessarily have to do with battles.”
– Passaic Valley Today, July 19, 2012, “Resident Launches Historical Website”, Tina Pappas