Scan barcode
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.
brittany_alleman_ayers's review
4.0
It has been several years since I read this book, but it is absolutely wonderful. It is a great historical fiction of a family during the Civil War.
alegriafury's review against another edition
3.0
Good YA read with some interesting insight into life during the Civil War.
strangementalitypaper's review against another edition
This book is so dated -- not in its ideas, those hold up quite well -- but it does read like it was written in the 1960s... which is was. I don't think it's really fair to give this a rating because I enjoyed it, but its writing is overwhelmingly flawed. I first read this when I was fourteen and I loved it then, but it just doesn't hit hard anymore. It's a good book for a middle school ELA class to read because of all the historical information and good vocab words that could be drawn from the book, and kids that age wouldn't notice its old fashioned style. Middle grade currently is in a new golden age, and this book pales in comparison to what's coming out now. That's why it left me feeling a little... bleh.
thebrookelist's review against another edition
4.0
Read in JR High and thought was a little boring. Felt the same way at the beginning this time again (buried a little in some of the history of battles and generals, etc). However, it didn't take too long for the story to pick up and for me to see why it was studied in school. Good story for the complicated nature of the Civil War. Good themes of family, loyalty, courage, hard work, and human goodness. Truly there are no "winners" in war. Very well-written and powerful look at the Civil War and the plight of those who lived during such a powerful time.
jmshirtz's review against another edition
5.0
It took me longer than usual to get into the story, but once I did I was fascinated. My Teita describes it as “profound” and I agree. I love historical fiction so it shouldn’t surprise me, but reading about the war from a civilian’s point of view while the events unfolded really drove home how if affected everyone else in the country. Too often my focus has been on the battles and soldiers. I wish I knew what happened after the end of the book, but sometimes the best ones leave you wondering.
heatherlynnhla2's review against another edition
3.0
Generally, I don't love historical fiction... And of all the time periods to read historical fiction about, The American Civil War has to be one of my least favorites. Despite the odds then, I found this book quite enjoyable. There were times where it felt more like a history book than a novel, but on the whole, the characters were compelling and the story one that should be told. An enjoyable and important read.