This book is part of the "What Was?" series, and is recommended for readers in the age range of 8 to 12 years old also described as grade levels 3 to 7. This book details the historical event of the Boston Tea Party, a significant act of defiance by American colonists against British rule. The Boston Tea Party occurred on December 16, 1773, when colonists, frustrated with British taxation without representation, dumped chests of tea into Boston Harbor. The protest was a key event leading up to the American Revolution. The book includes 16 pages of photos to help bring the historical event to life.