Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction * ALA Best Book for Young Adults * ALA Notable Children's Book
In this brilliant fictional tour de force, which the New York Times called "a deft, poignant novel," Newbery Medal-winning author Paul Fleischman re-creates the first great battle of the Civil War from the points of view of sixteen participants.
Northern and Southern, male and female, white and black. Here are voices that tell of the dreams of glory, the grim reality, the hopes, horror, and folly of a nation discovering the true nature of war.
This extraordinary novel captures the conflict through a chorus of voices:
- Multiple Perspectives: Follow the battle through the eyes of sixteen different people—from a Union sketch artist and a Confederate courier to a slave girl seeking freedom.
- Union and Confederate Voices: Hear the hopes, fears, and motivations from both sides of the conflict, painting a complete and humanizing picture of the war.
- Historically Authentic Detail: Witness the first major battle of the Civil War, from the patriotic fervor of the send-offs to the shocking reality of the battlefield at Bull Run.
- Award-Winning Historical Fiction: Perfect for middle grade readers and classrooms, this Scott O’Dell Award winner brings American history to life.
