Reading Metrics
Description
This book examines the contributions of soldiers, government officials, free blacks, abolitionists, women, and children to the United cause during the Civil War.
Quick Summary
If you're looking for a Civil War book that goes beyond just battles and generals, this one's for you. Hull focuses on the everyday heroes soldiers, free blacks, abolitionists, women, and even kids who pulled together (or tried to) for the Union cause, which gives you a much fuller picture of what the war actually looked like on the home front and in the trenches. It's solidly researched but written in a way that doesn't talk down to middle graders, so it works great for kids who love history or anyone doing a school project on the era. There's some heavy stuff here the realities of war, slavery, and loss but it's handled appropriately for the age group, making it a good choice for family reading or classroom discussion. Kids who enjoy nonfiction that tells untold stories, rather than just dates and battles, will get the most out of this one. If your young reader already loves Howard Zinn's style of telling history from below, they'll find similar ground here, just pitched at a more accessible level.