Ghosts of the Civil War - Softcover

Harness, Cheryl

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0689869924 ISBN 13: 9780689869921

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2004

Synopsis

Lindsey thinks the Civil War is just another dull moment in our nation's history -- until she meets the ghost of Willie Lincoln. He takes her back in time to witness the war firsthand. Lindsey watches in awe as the Yankee and the Rebels battle at Fort Sumter and as General Lee surrenders at the Appomattox. And just as the war is ending, the tragic assassination of President Lincoln occurs before her eyes. When she returns to present, Lindsey realizes "the Civil War is a whole lot more than cannons and flags and stuff." With Harness's vivid illustrations, compelling dialogue, and detailed timelines, any young reader will realize it too.

About this title

About the Author:

Cheryl Harness lives in Independence, Missouri. As an author and illustrator, she is known for her engaging approach to history, seen in such books as Our Colonial Year; Mary Walker Wears the Pants; Young Abe Lincoln; George Washington; Spymaster; Three Young Pilgrims, Ghosts of the White House; and Remember the Ladies.

Cheryl Harness lives in Independence, Missouri. As an author and illustrator, she is known for her engaging approach to history, seen in such books as Our Colonial Year; Mary Walker Wears the Pants; Young Abe Lincoln; George Washington; Spymaster; Three Young Pilgrims, Ghosts of the White House; and Remember the Ladies.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 2-4-Young Lindsey, bored and cranky as she visits a Civil War reenactment with her parents, is transported back in time when she meets the ghost of Willie Lincoln. Starting with the arrival of the first slaves in 1619, Willie explains the origins of the war and its history. Using highly detailed, captioned paintings, sidebars, and annotated maps, Harness imparts a great deal of information on each spread. In fact, there is no white space in the entire book. The excellent-quality artwork and hand-lettered captions were created using watercolor, ink, and colored pencil. The major battles and campaigns of the war are described, as are political events such as the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address. The story concludes with the assassination of President Lincoln, who, reunited with his beloved Willie, sends Lindsey back to her waiting parents. The final pages of the book include biographical sketches of the major figures, a large map summarizing the battles and troop movements, pictures of the various flags, and a list of wartime firsts. This book, while chock-full of information, is nearly impossible to read aloud to a group and may miss its target audience. Younger readers, attracted by the pictures, will be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information. Older children who would benefit from the detailed presentation may be wary of the easy format and the contrived fictional framework. Still, this is a good choice for elementary students with strong reading skills who are studying the period, visiting a reenactment or battlefield, or interested in the War Between the States.

Rita Hunt Smith, Hershey Public Library, PA

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0689869924
• ISBN 13: 9780689869921
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Harness Cheryl