United No More!: Stories of the Civil War

Rappaport, Doreen; Verniero, Joan

ISBN 10: 0060506008 ISBN 13: 9780060506001

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2006

Synopsis

In the Civil War, the most violent war that America has ever experienced, brothers fought against brothers and millions of lives were changed forever. In this book you'll find seven stories of real people whose important acts made them a part of history.

These dramatic and thoroughly researched stories put you in the shoes of Northerners and Southerners as they live out the great dramas of the war. You'll run through the streets of Richmond with hungry women who are rioting to protest unfair food prices. You'll suffer Southerner Eugenia Phillip's humiliating imprisonment on a desolate island. You'll go full speed ahead into Mobile Bay at the side of Admiral David Farragut. You'll carry the Stars and Stripes through the thick of battle along with one of the Union's African American divisions. You'll be there at Lincoln's second inaugural, and with Generals Grant and Lee when they sign the surrender ending the war!

Doreen Rappaport and Joan Verniero's vivid histories have won critical praised for bringing true stories to life in realistic detail -- a style that Kirkus Reviews called "a model of excellent historical writing." In United No More! Their signature approach sheds new and human light on the events of the great and terrible Civil War.

About this title

About the Author:

Doreen Rappaport is well known for her groundbreaking approach to multicultural history and literature for young readers. Her many books include Victory or Death: Stories of the American Revolution; We Are The Many: A Picture Book of American Indians; and Martin’s Big Words, winner of the Jane Addams Book Award. She and her husband divide their time between New York City and a rural village in upstate New York.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4-7–An interesting and readable introduction to the Civil War. Drawn from primary sources, the seven short narratives reflect the experiences of people on both sides of the conflict. Two selections, those of William H. Carney, a volunteer in the Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry, and David Farragut, the naval commander who stormed Mobile Bay, have plenty of battlefield action. Three more, by Julia Ward Howe, who penned the words of the Battle Hymn of the Republic; Eugenia Phillips, who was imprisoned for her disrespect of Union forces in New Orleans; and Mary Jackson, who led a food riot in Richmond, reflect the experiences of women. The remaining two are snapshots of Lincolns second inaugural and Lees surrender at Appomattox. All of the stories will help students understand the passions and hardships that accompanied the war. There is some fictionalization, but the authors notes discuss sources and their veracity, including such tidbits as the fact that there is no credible evidence that Farragut actually shouted, Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! Maps and occasional black-and-white, pen-and-ink drawings add detail and drama to the narratives. The further-reading list includes nonfiction and fiction titles as well as Web sites. These accounts could be used for read-alouds or to entice students to do further research, making this title a good choice for most collections.–Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO
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About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0060506008
• ISBN 13: 9780060506001
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 144
• Illustrator: Reeves Rick