The Curse of the Buttons

October 1, 2014

Gr 3-6-Anne Ylvisaker continues her series about the Button clan. These loosely connected books feature different generations of the family across various historical periods. Here readers meet Ike, who is left behind when all his brothers, his father, and his uncle go off to fight for the Union in the Civil War. He desperately wants to find a way to sneak off and join them, but ultimately finds that there is a war (of sorts) to fight at home, too. Ylvisaker's writing is clear and engaging, but the plot is a bit predictable and the characters develop in standard lines for the genre. Still, readers will find a lot to relate to and cheer for in Ike, who merely wants to live up to his uncle's legacy of adventurous deeds. While not the most original historical fiction book in recent years, there will be a spot in medium-sized libraries for this sweet, fast-paced story, especially where the previous installments are popular. The author's note at the end aptly explains the research process and encourages students to discover their own local history.-Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2014
Like almost all the menfolk in the town of Keokuk, Ike is initially thrilled when Iowa, a free state, is called up by President Abraham Lincoln to fight in the Civil War, but his happiness turns to horror when he realizes that he's too young for combat and must stay behind with the women. Ike Button, 11 and an endearing combination of credulous and cranky, is a high-energy wannabe hero who is constantly getting knocked down. And that's what makes him such fun. Hapless, continually bested by the conniving Hinman brothers, beaten by 12-year-old Albirdie Woolley in brainpower and checkers, and forced to help out in ignominious ways, Ike is continually scrambling. After an extensive setup that details the warp and weft of life in 1860s Iowa-kids should marvel at the differences in daily experiences-Ike is put to the test. He discovers a runaway slave woman and later her young sons in a time when it is legal to capture and return runaway slaves to their owners, even in free states. This forces Ike, not exactly a deep thinker, to make a moral decision and take action, leading to his realization that the war being waged is fought not only on the battlefield. Although the story is slow in places, the characters charm, and the material is enhanced by the author's well-realized rendition of time and place. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

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