A vivid portrayal of the Civil War. Johnny, fourteen, convinces his mother to let him join a wagon train carrying food to Confederate soldiers. He has been brought up to believe that all blacks are stupid; thus, when captured by a black Union soldier who insists that Johnny teach him to read, he deliberately tricks him. The boy is surprised the soldier saves him from imprisonment and their relationship grows throughout the book.
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"Excellent historical fiction. Students can connect to the struggles the characters face while learning more about the themes of friendship and loyalty." — Ellen (5 out of 5 stars)
"Excellent historical fiction. Students can connect to the struggles the characters face while learning more about the themes of friendship and loyalty."
“A strong, affecting picture of the Civil War era, of the grueling work and privations of the home front as well the chaos and carnage of the battlefield.”
“Narrator Alston Brown becomes Johnny in this poignant first-person account of the Civil War from a Southern perspective. He also excels at creating Yankee and African-American accents as well as the speech patterns of the day.”
“A vivid portrayal of the Civil War…Richly drawn…Authentic battle scenes add spice to the story.”
“The text offers controversial viewpoints without intrusive moralizing. A fine supplement for textbooks on the Civil War, capable of provoking exciting discussions and insights.”
" A black union soldier captures a white rebel soldier and an unlikely friendship forms "
" Wonderful book about the Civil War. I read it for my classroom, but fell in love with it. Of course, the Civil War is my favorite time in history. "
" the use of the n word is no basis for a book "
" it was an ok book for a Hf BOOK "
James Lincoln Collier has written many books for children, including Give Dad My Best and Planet out of the Past. He has also contributed more than five hundred articles to the New York Times Magazine, Reader’s Digest, and Boy’s Life. His honors include the Kidger Prize for Teaching, the Jane Addams Peace Prize, and the Newbery Honor.
Christopher Collier is professor of history emeritus at the University of Connecticut. His field is early American history, especially the history of Connecticut and the American Revolution.
Alston Brown is an actor and writer, currently enrolled as an MFA candidate in the Brown University / Trinity Repertory Company’s acting program. He has worked extensively in theater in New York and regionally, including workshops of the Broadway play Next Fall and at the Sundance Institute, and appeared in the film Observe and Report. Alston lives in Providence, Rhode Island.
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