Synopsis
John B. Severance, whose latest biography was Einstein, Visionary Scientist, now turns his research skills and fine eye for detail to fiction. The last two years of the Civil War are the setting for this fast-paced story of a 15-year-old Maryland farm boy who joins the Union Army, despite being torn between loyalty to his father, a Union officer, and loyalty to his grandfather, a Confederate. When foraging Confederate soldiers burn down the barn on Jem’s land, he and his best friend go off on what they think will be a glorious adventure. But they are hardly prepared for the true face of battle as they fight the enemy—boys like themselves—in the woods and swamps, become part of the regiment proudly known as General Barlow’s Boys, march through blood-soaked cornfields, and witness death. Details of the soldiers’ daily life and vivid depictions of actual battles and historical figures are interwoven with bits of dark humor and even a touch of romance in this well-wrought novel that clearly shows there is no glory in war.
School Library Journal
Gr 7-10-Fourteen-year-old Jem is coming of age in Civil War Maryland. Every night there is an argument between his Confederate-sympathizing grandfather and his Unionist father. His friend Hank has no strong feelings beyond the desire to join the fight. "Think of the glory," he tells Jem. "We'll be heroes when we come home." After scavengers burn down the family barn, Jem has had enough, and he and Hank march off to join the Union Army. But there is little glory in their odyssey-just a lot of marching, digging, and dodging bullets. Comrades are mowed down around them, and Jem is seriously wounded. In an attempt to shoot his assailant, he kills Hank instead. The author drives home his theme with a heavy hand; the characters talk in speeches that are sometimes unbelievable for their age, even for those who have experienced war. All of this dialogue makes following the story and understanding the characters difficult; one often has to reread passages to understand what is happening or who is speaking. Much of the action takes place offstage, and is only later described. That said, this frank, realistic portrayal of soldiering might be a good novel to share with readers too caught up in the "romance" of war.-Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.