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librariandest's review against another edition
3.0
This is less a novel and more a chorus of voices each shedding light on an aspect of the Civil War during the lead up to the first Battle of Bull Run. Memorable voices include Shem, who joins the Confederate cavalry just because he wants a horse, and Lilly, whose brother runs away to join the Union army. This didn't come together in a very satisfying way for me, but it is definitely useful in sparking a discussion about what the Civil War meant to people who were alive at the time. (Hint: Many of them did not really care about whether slavery remained legal.) It's also a quick read, and I'll forgive a lot for a book that doesn't take forever to get through.
toreypickard's review against another edition
3.0
Excellent glimpse at a moment in history. Glad we read it, and the full cast audio really helped bring it to life.
rosemech's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Blood
rrabas's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting account of the battle of Bull Run told from the perspective of fictional characters.
shaprincess21's review against another edition
5.0
This book was actually a great book if you like anything based in Civil war times.
elsanore's review against another edition
3.0
I read Paul Fleischman's Bull Run with my two children as part of our homeschool study of the Civil War. The audio book brought it to life! Presented by a full cast of sixteen voices, each is a distinct character. Reading silently would not have had nearly the same impact, and I would have given the book a mere two stars.
whitneydrew's review against another edition
2.0
I think there were too many narrators of this story (16). It got confusing and it felt a little less emotional because of it.
jamicuns01's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this book was on the 4th grade battle of the books list and read it. It is actually for the 5th graders, but I'm glad I read it. It's a good glimpse at the beginning of the Civil War. I had a hard time remembering who was who, but I did like that the author used a number of witnesses from different walks of life to tell the story. I was struck by the treatment of the slaves by the northerners. They were fighting a war that would end slavery but they turned back a slave if they tried to escape? :( I was also struck by the idea that people would set up picnics on a hill overlooking the battle and watch it unfold for their entertainment. What a different time. I recommend it for any young reader wanting to learn more about the Civil War.
pinkrain718's review against another edition
4.0
This book includes many perspectives concerning the Battle of Bull Run and it's a great way to introduce the war and how different people reacted. I look forward to reading parts aloud to my class when I introduce this battle.