The Storm Before Atlanta

November 1, 2010

Fantasizing an heroic battlefield death, 11-year-old Jeremy DeGroot leaves Syracuse, N.Y., for the war in the South. As a drummer boy with the 107th New York Infantry, he learns truths about war and slavery as they slog toward Atlanta in 1864. His story is intertwined with that of 11-year-old Dulcie, an escaped slave who works for the regiment's Dr. Flood. Jeremy quickly discovers that war is chaotic and frightening. His messmates make fun of him, he's tired and hungry and he's unsure where the battle lines are. He's grateful for a clandestine friendship with a young Confederate soldier, Charlie, with whom he trades food and conversation—but Charlie has his own secrets. As a surgeon's assistant, Dulcie participates in an endless round of amputations; Jeremy gets to bury arms and legs. Richly detailed and well paced, the story provides both well-developed characters and plenty of suspense and gore. For those who like to know the facts behind historical fiction, the author provides historical notes and selected sources. An appealing Civil War title for readers with strong stomachs. (Historical fiction. 9-14)

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February 1, 2011

Gr 5-8-Jeremy and Dulcie quickly learn the truths of Civil War battle. Although Jeremy, an indentured servant, is technically required to receive food, clothing, and an education in return for his work, he often finds himself hungry, barefoot, and out of school. Eager to join the war effort, he flees the misery of Old Silas's neglect, has a brief stint as a paper boy, and joins the Union Army as a drummer boy. Dulcie, a young slave in Georgia, escapes and nearly drowns, but is rescued by Jeremy and Charlie, a young Confederate soldier whom Jeremy has befriended (an author's note following the story explains that this was not unheard of at the time). The Peace Society, a clandestine organization of pro-Union Confederate soldiers, becomes a surprising and important force in the three characters' lives. This is a fair and informative look at the role of young people in the conflict. The depictions of medicine and nursing are grim and believable, and the cruel treatment of slaves is evident, although graphic descriptions are kept to a minimum.-Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2011
Grades 5-8 Itching to join the Union army as a drummer boy, Jeremy talks his way into a New York regiment, though he is much too young to enlist. As he and his messmates march through Tennessee and Georgia, he slowly gains their acceptance. Along the way, he also strikes up an uneasy acquaintance with a young Confederate soldier and befriends Dulcie, an 11-year-old escaped slave, whose story is sometimes told in parallel with Jeremys. Gradually, his dreams of glory fade as he finds that war is not what he expected and, often, people are not what they seem. With graphic scenes set on the battlefield and in the field hospital, the story is more realistic than most Civil War novels for young people. Despite deaths, amputations, and moral ambiguities, the writing does convey a sense of idealism and purpose or, perhaps, multiple purposes for the various well-drawn characters. Schwabachs research is evident in details of the story as well as the appended historical notes and source bibliography.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)