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mullinstreetzoo's review against another edition
Liked it a lot. A good look at the sobering painful realities of War Between the States, told in a pattern and language for young readers. (#81--a historical book)
krisis86's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a while to get used to the feel of this book - kind of like how it took me a little while to get used to how Hagrid talks in Harry Potter. The characters are from Southern Illinois and have their own way of speaking. Once I eased into their language, everything moved pretty quickly.
I was kind of bummed that we never find out what happen to some of the characters - but, then I guess, neither did real families living back in the Civil War days. If eldest brother went off to California and died, the family would likely never know. Makes me grateful to live in a world with instant messaging and emails, and okay, even the postal system.
Good historical fiction read. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes the Civil War era, and kids around ages 10-13.
I was kind of bummed that we never find out what happen to some of the characters - but, then I guess, neither did real families living back in the Civil War days. If eldest brother went off to California and died, the family would likely never know. Makes me grateful to live in a world with instant messaging and emails, and okay, even the postal system.
Good historical fiction read. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes the Civil War era, and kids around ages 10-13.
tamarayork's review against another edition
5.0
Newbery Challenge 143/412. This was a fantastic, fictional overview of the Civil War told from the perspective of a young boy coming of age. The story covers all of the years of the war...across all 5 Aprils. This would be a great book to read while studying the period. It is authentic, informative, and not too gruesome for young people. Highly recommend.
sydney_s's review
3.0
All anybody could talk about during the preteen years of young Jethro was war. The talk of war would always just roll right off of everyone's tongue. Even if nobody wanted to talk about that subject it would just pop right out of their mouth like a flower popping out of the ground. This was the Civil war.
This book, Across Five Aprils, is about about a young boy named Jethro and his family during the time leading up to and during the Civil War. Across Five Aprils is not all about the war but it also tells the acounts of a family that stays at home during the war.
I would recommend this book to people who are bored and would just like to pick up a book and read, students who have to read a book about the Civil War to get information, or to people who like both history and reading. Over all Across Five Aprils is a good written book by Irene Hunt that would be placed in the category of historical fiction.
This book, Across Five Aprils, is about about a young boy named Jethro and his family during the time leading up to and during the Civil War. Across Five Aprils is not all about the war but it also tells the acounts of a family that stays at home during the war.
I would recommend this book to people who are bored and would just like to pick up a book and read, students who have to read a book about the Civil War to get information, or to people who like both history and reading. Over all Across Five Aprils is a good written book by Irene Hunt that would be placed in the category of historical fiction.
readwithmikey's review against another edition
3.0
Civil War middle grade book I read in 6th grade. Little I can recall about it, except we had a big class debate on whether one character should marry another or not, haha. (6.5)
aseleener's review against another edition
2.0
I read this for my classic lit book club. For the record, I don't really consider this a classic because I had never heard of it before. The story of a rural southern Illinois family during the Civil War failed to engage me. My biggest complaint is the dialog that is spelled out the hick way it is pronounced. I really hate that. It really slows me down because I basically have to translate everything. Ugh.
samiwise's review against another edition
4.0
Extremely interesting but melancholy at points, which is to be expected from the subject matter. I found the presentation of the war and the participants to be much more objective and detailed than most Civil War books.
robconner88's review against another edition
2.0
This book should be renamed "A boy farms during the Civil War". That's pretty much all this book is. It is marketed as a brilliantly written story about war and loss. But really it is more like a juvenile novel that goes through the events of the Civil War.
It isn't too bad. It just isn't too good. I feel like this book might be a good one to read for a 10 year old interested in the Civil War and what happened during it. Other than that, it doesn't offer much. It is supposedly the first ever YA novel, but having read several YA novels over the last few years I think this book really doesn't offer that much to qualify it for that distinction.
Like I said, I would recommend this book to those who REALLY are into the Civil War, or children who want to learn about it and are about 8-12 years old. If that doesn't fit your description, then skip it. It isn't a long book by any means, but I still don't think it is worth the minimal amount of reading time it takes up. Not when there are many more great books about the Civil War for adult readers like Michael and Jeff Shaara's "Killer Angels" series.
It isn't too bad. It just isn't too good. I feel like this book might be a good one to read for a 10 year old interested in the Civil War and what happened during it. Other than that, it doesn't offer much. It is supposedly the first ever YA novel, but having read several YA novels over the last few years I think this book really doesn't offer that much to qualify it for that distinction.
Like I said, I would recommend this book to those who REALLY are into the Civil War, or children who want to learn about it and are about 8-12 years old. If that doesn't fit your description, then skip it. It isn't a long book by any means, but I still don't think it is worth the minimal amount of reading time it takes up. Not when there are many more great books about the Civil War for adult readers like Michael and Jeff Shaara's "Killer Angels" series.
vhp's review against another edition
4.0
My ds rates this book five stars!
I loved the way this book was written. The author did a good job in capturing the regional dialect and giving life to each of the characters.
I felt sorry for the man who's son was a drunken loser and killed a local girl. And I was happy when he helped the brother of this deceased girl.
Jethro is 9 when news of the shot fired at Fort Sumter reaches him and his family. Some of his brothers and cousins are fired up to join the fight on the Union side. But his book smart brother goes against the grain and joins the Confederate side.
There's ill will from the ruffians in the county about families that have sons who join the fed side of the war.
Jethro is 13 by the time the war is coming to an end, with a long road ahead for the family to come together, as well as the country.
I loved the way this book was written. The author did a good job in capturing the regional dialect and giving life to each of the characters.
I felt sorry for the man who's son was a drunken loser and killed a local girl. And I was happy when he helped the brother of this deceased girl.
Jethro is 9 when news of the shot fired at Fort Sumter reaches him and his family. Some of his brothers and cousins are fired up to join the fight on the Union side. But his book smart brother goes against the grain and joins the Confederate side.
There's ill will from the ruffians in the county about families that have sons who join the fed side of the war.
Jethro is 13 by the time the war is coming to an end, with a long road ahead for the family to come together, as well as the country.