Civil War Books for Younger Readers: 350 Critical Review and Summaries

The Civil War lasted for four years and claimed the lives of over 630,000 Americans. Between 1861-65 armies swept across vast stretches of the United States. Cities such as Atlanta, Richmond, and Vicksburg were virtually destroyed. American soldiers slayed one another in numbers previously and subsequently unimagined. Small American towns such as Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Petersburg became the sites of horrific battles. In the end, the Civil War resulted in the reunification of the country, emancipation for millions of African-Americans, the destruction of antebellum social structures in the South, and the emergence of the United States as a great power on the international scene. Since 1865 literally tens of thousands of books have been written about a plethora of Civil War subjects. Many of those books have younger readers as their target audience. Authors and contemporary publishers produce dozens of Civil War books every year designed for children and adolescents. Many of those publications are well written, thoughtfully focused, and memorable in terms of structure. However, some are not worthy of purchase or perusal. Civil War Books for Younger Readers represents a resource tool for educators, librarians, parents, and anyone interested in purchasing quality Civil War books for youngsters. The 350 featured reviews address the vast majority of Civil War books presently available for younger readers. Each review features not only commentary about the book but also elements of Civil War history. In addition, each review includes book specific information such as suggested age ranges for readers, cost, publication date, and publisher. Civil War Books for Younger Readers represents the most complete single volume review compendium presently available dealing solely with the Civil War era. As such, it is a valuable tool for reference as well as an entertaining look at 350 Civil War books currently on the market