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The Boys' War: Confederate and Union Soldiers Talk About the Civil War Audiobook
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(3.12) - 129 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
We all know about the famous generals and the major battles of the Civil War. But for the soldiers who actually fought, the war was all too real. It was especially traumatic for the thousands of soldiers who ranged in age from 10 to 15. Some young soldiers joined the fray to escape the boredom of farm work or to "set the South straight." Many of them kept diaries and wrote letters home. Through their eyes, we see what life was like on the edge of chaos. Some of their writing describes the gruesome details of forced marches and deaths on the battlefield. Balanced with anecdotes of practical jokes they played on one another and interesting people they met, their stories touch our minds and hearts. Ed Sala's interpretation of this well-documented history brings the Civil War to life in a way that few historians could. These everyday details of the war, told in the straightforward language of the young, provide a moving, unforgettable history lesson.
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"this is the first book I ever remember reading about the Civil War. The book is mostly pictures of young boys who fought in the Civil War. Some of the pictures are very graphic and I identified with the boys in those pictures. I have been fascinated with the Civil War ever since. "
— Sam (4 out of 5 stars)
The Boys' War Listener Reviews
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" An excellent assembly of primary sources, both candid pictures of the army encampments and letters, diaries and interviews with the boys who went to war. "
— Kara, 7/30/2013 -
" I learned a lot about the civil war. My favorite are the drummer boys. "
— Emilyn, 7/21/2013 -
" An easy, light read if you have any interest in the Civil War. "
— Cathy, 5/29/2013 -
" Interesting side of how it was for the boys in the Civil War to join, fight, and be in the battlegrounds. "
— McKay, 5/19/2013 -
" this is the first book I ever remember reading about the Civil War. The book is mostly pictures of young boys who fought in the Civil War. Some of the pictures are very graphic and I identified with the boys in those pictures. I have been fascinated with the Civil War ever since. "
— Sam, 12/15/2012 -
" Interesting read about boys involved with the Civil war. Shocking at times, though I'd like to have a little more depth to the characters. It was a good refresher in the horrors of war. "
— Jennifer, 10/30/2012 -
" Not as interesting as I thought it was going to be. As a book about soldier's lives, I thought it was moderately interesting, but I didn't feel like the book captured the lives of boy soldiers. Jim Murphy is a great author, and this was really well written - but the subject matter just went astray. "
— Shawn, 6/17/2012 -
" Although this is a children's book I enjoyed it. A simple read. It was full of a lot of information about the boys that served in the Civil War. Often history books leave them out. I recommend this to any History and/or Civil War buff. "
— Lenora, 10/28/2011 -
" Interesting account of the Civil War. "
— Skye, 10/2/2011 -
" A good introduction for children to a soldier's life in the American Civil War. I like the inclusion of quotes from both sides to show the similarities between these young men and boys who fought each other and could have been friends in another life - a sad truth of many wars. "
— Shane, 12/21/2010 -
" Excellent nonfiction narrative of boy soldiers in the Civil War. "
— Jen, 12/20/2010 -
" Informational <br/> <br/>Grades 4-7 <br/> <br/>Themes: Civil War; soldier' life; <br/> <br/>Ways to use with children: "
— Ray, 7/18/2010 -
" If you were to join the Union or Confederate Soldiers in the Cilvil War you had to be 18. This book tells about the lives of Union and Confederate soldiers under the age of 18. "
— Jack, 9/17/2009 -
" An easy, light read if you have any interest in the Civil War. "
— Cathy, 8/17/2009 -
" Interesting side of how it was for the boys in the Civil War to join, fight, and be in the battlegrounds. "
— McKay, 3/2/2009 -
" I learned a lot about the civil war. My favorite are the drummer boys. "
— Emilyn, 6/11/2008 -
" Interesting read about boys involved with the Civil war. Shocking at times, though I'd like to have a little more depth to the characters. It was a good refresher in the horrors of war. "
— Jennifer, 10/29/2007
About Jim Murphy
Jim Murphy is an editor and writer with more than a dozen books for young readers to his credit. Research Mr. Murphy was doing on the Civil War inspired his book The Boys’ War, as well as The Long Road to Gettysburg.
About Ed Sala
Ed Sala has narrated dozens of audio books throughout his career. His readings include Harlan Coben’s Tell No One, Stephen Sears’ Gettysburg, and Cormac MacCarthy’s Outer Dark.