The Turning Point: 1863

Children's Literature - Greg M. Romaneck

1863 represented the mid-point of the Civil War. It was also a year during which some of the most pivotal events of the war occurred. 1863 featured the twin Union victories of Vicksburg and Gettysburg. In the autumn of the year a major Confederate victory at Chickamauga represented one of the few times during the war that an entire Federal army could have been destroyed on the field of battle. 1863 also was the year that Stonewall Jackson, General Lee's most trusted corps commander, was fatally wounded by his own troops during the battle of Chancellorsville. In many ways, as Tim Cooke notes in this well-researched chapter book, part of the illustrated "Civil War Highlights" series, 1863 was a turning point in America's most costly war. Even though one-and-a-half years of war remained after the close of 1863, in many ways the possibility of a Confederate victory on the battlefield was extremely unlikely. It is this pivotal year that Tim Cooke and his associates present in this fine work. In many ways Cooke does an excellent job of distilling a significant amount of history into approximately 40 pages of text. Features within the book that are helpful to the reader include wartime timelines, battle details, and anecdotal sketches each of which pepper the book. In this way readers are provided a solid overview of a critical phase of American history. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck

Children's Literature - Greg M. Romaneck

1863 represented the mid-point of the Civil War. It was also a year during which some of the most pivotal events of the war occurred. 1863 featured the twin Union victories of Vicksburg and Gettysburg. In the autumn of the year a major Confederate victory at Chickamauga represented one of the few times during the war that an entire Federal army could have been destroyed on the field of battle. 1863 also was the year that Stonewall Jackson, General Lee's most trusted corps commander, was fatally wounded by his own troops during the battle of Chancellorsville. In many ways, as Tim Cooke notes in this well-researched chapter book, part of the illustrated "Civil War Highlights" series, 1863 was a turning point in America's most costly war. Even though one-and-a-half years of war remained after the close of 1863, in many ways the possibility of a Confederate victory on the battlefield was extremely unlikely. It is this pivotal year that Tim Cooke and his associates present in this fine work. In many ways Cooke does an excellent job of distilling a significant amount of history into approximately 40 pages of text. Features within the book that are helpful to the reader include wartime timelines, battle details, and anecdotal sketches each of which pepper the book. In this way readers are provided a solid overview of a critical phase of American history. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck

School Library Journal

Gr 4–6—Designed for students new to the subject, these titles describe the political and social background of the Civil War. In the process, military strategies and key persons are discussed. A time line runs along the bottom of all of the books, listing not only events of the Civil War but also major events in the world at large. Each title concludes with a "Need to Know" section that reinforces the book's themes by listing important terms, personalities, and strategies, including information about life on the home front. In addition, a "Test Yourself" page encourages reader ownership of the book's content by posing study questions, such as "How did General McClellan gain an advantage at Sharpsburg?" and "What Amendment to the U.S. Constitution finally ended slavery?" Each title is profusely and colorfully illustrated with photographs, reproductions, and ephemera. Each image corroborates the accompanying text. These books are first-rate introductions.

School Library Journal

Gr 4–6—Designed for students new to the subject, these titles describe the political and social background of the Civil War. In the process, military strategies and key persons are discussed. A time line runs along the bottom of all of the books, listing not only events of the Civil War but also major events in the world at large. Each title concludes with a "Need to Know" section that reinforces the book's themes by listing important terms, personalities, and strategies, including information about life on the home front. In addition, a "Test Yourself" page encourages reader ownership of the book's content by posing study questions, such as "How did General McClellan gain an advantage at Sharpsburg?" and "What Amendment to the U.S. Constitution finally ended slavery?" Each title is profusely and colorfully illustrated with photographs, reproductions, and ephemera. Each image corroborates the accompanying text. These books are first-rate introductions.