Like a River

February 9, 2015
Wiechman debuts with a grim Civil War story about two underage Union soldiers, Leander Johnson and Paul Settles. When Leander’s older brother suffers an accident that leaves him without the use of his legs, Leander enlists in his place. Soon severely wounded—through his own clumsiness—he is taken to a makeshift Georgia hospital, where he meets Paul, whose father is dying there. The two become friends, growing closer when Leander discovers an important secret of Paul’s. With Leander stronger and headed home, Paul’s story, in which he is captured and sent to Camp Sumter, takes over. Wiechman delivers a realistic portrayal of the gritty details of prison camp conditions as Paul witnesses many soldiers succumb to infected wounds, disease, and malnutrition. Just as the worst seems to be over, the explosion of the Sultana steamboat takes nearly 1,800 lives, most of them prisoners finally going home, and causes Paul to fight for his life like never before. An extensive author’s note provides historical background, including several period photos. Horrific moments land in quick succession, but the book has strong merit as accurate historical fiction. Ages 9–up.

January 1, 2015

Gr 5-8-Three years have passed since the beginning of the Civil War, when two underage teens, West Virginian Paul Settles and Ohioan Leander Jordan, both with secrets to guard, enlist in the Union Army. Their paths cross in a military hospital, where their mysteries begin to unravel, but the plot takes them in separate directions. Wiechman's debut novel details the pecking order of the Army camps, the grim hospitals, and survival in the prison. The plot is presented in short chapters, with an array of compassionate characters. American waterways comprise settings, as well as the motif for the theme of change: ("'Like a river, ' Polly said. 'My pap al'ys said folks is like rivers, ever a-changin' and ever a-changin' others.'") The rich language and artful imagery will stay with readers long after finishing the last page. Well-researched details of Andersonville Prison and the Sultana Explosion are supported by an author's note with photos and a bibliography. This joins other great middle grade novels about the Civil War including Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulson (Delacorte, 1998), The Mostly True Adventure of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick (Scholastic, 2009), and the YA novel A Soldier's Secret: The Incredible True Story of Sarah Edmonds by Marissa Moss (Abrams, 2012). A truly excellent first purchase for all fans of historical fiction who enjoy a hint of romance.-Sharon M. Lawler, formerly of Randolph Elementary, Randolph AFB, TX

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from January 15, 2015
The stories of three teens intersect in the later years of the Civil War in this debut novel. Fifteen-year-old Leander Jordan runs off to war from Ohio to prove he's a man. "Working in the foundry wasn't something to admire, not like being a soldier in uniform, a soldier who'd risk his life facing enemy guns. Pa had to see he was doing a manly thing." But he lands in a Southern hospital, where he befriends Paul Settles, another young Union soldier, who tends to his wounds. When they're separated, Paul ends up in hellish Andersonville Prison, where smallpox, scurvy and hunger plague the prisoners. There, Paul's friendship with Given McGlade, a fellow prisoner and Leander's neighbor from back home, helps keep them both alive. Though the prose is a bit florid early on, the stories are effectively related in twinned third-person narrative, and Wiechman's abundant research is unobtrusively folded into the tale. An excellent author's note provides further information about the times. Though the horrors of Andersonville and various Civil War-era events such as the Battle of Atlanta, Lincoln's assassination and the explosion of the steamboat Sultana provide wartime context, it's the secrets woven into the well-paced tale that will pull readers eagerly to the tearful conclusion. A superb Civil War tale of friendship, loyalty and what it means to be a man. (bibliography) (Historical fiction. 9-14)

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April 15, 2015
Grades 5-8 Leander Jordan wants to be seen as a man by his family and the girl he loves, but he never feels he can measure up. In order to prove himself, he joins the Union army. After an accident lands him in the hospital, he meets Paul Settles, a young soldier with a big secret to keep. Eventually Paul rejoins the fighting, only to be captured and sent to an army prison. While the novel starts out as Leander's story, the majority of the book centers on Paul's tale of survival. Though the characters' paths intertwine, the two story lines are disconnected at times. Wiechman doesn't shy away from the gory and horrific details of war, so be sure to give this to readers who can handle the grim and grisly. The novel explores many aspects of the Civil War that are sure to be intriguing to readers, such as survival in Camp Sumter and the tragedy of the Sultana. An extensive author's note with historic photographs and a bibliography provide additional details.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)