The Girls of Gettysburg

August 1, 2014
Miller explores the harrowing and bloody days of the Battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of three girls. Annie Gordon has run away from home and disguised herself as a boy to enlist in the Portsmouth Rifles of the Ninth Virginia Army. Her inexperience earns her the nickname "strawfoot," yet she proves to be a worthy soldier with her level head and marksmanship. In Gettsyburg, a local merchant's daughter, Tillie Pierce, assumes she can watch the war like a parade but is pressed into service as a nurse. The third point of view is the most compelling, provided by Grace Bryan, the fictionalized daughter of another historical figure, freed black peach farmer Abraham Bryan. Grace's story provides the most suspense, as she is cut off from her family when the soldiers enter the city. The horrors of war are appropriately smoothed for young readers, although there is violence and death. While humanizing this well-covered piece of American history, the three disparate views cannot encompass its breadth and come off as generic soldier, nurse and freed black slave trying to cover the female Civil War experience. The historical minor figures (Mary McAllister, another Gettysburg shopkeeper, and Bryan) glint with bright specificity, leaving readers yearning for more. An author's note gives insight into Miller's sources and process.This is an introduction more than anything else, as it nibbles on the edges of a feast. (Historical fiction. 10-12)

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October 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-In this riveting historical fiction novel, the stories of three young girls interweave during Pickett's Charge, one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War: Tille, a witty, sharp-tongued Union supporter; Grace, a free African American; and Annie, a Southern girl disguised as a male Confederate soldier. Tillie experiences the sounds and sights of the dying-the soldiers' tattered bodies and broken souls. She begins serving as a temporary nurse in her neighborhood, and is seen as an angel by those who long for home. Grace witnesses the Confederates approaching and burning everything in their path. In the past, her family had helped runaway slaves. As a result, she has a constant anxious feeling. Readers will connect with Grace's worrisome thoughts through the text. With the spirit of an abolitionist and humanitarian, Grace understands their need to be free and to control their own destiny. Annie, aka James Anachie Gordon, travels north to join the army, serving as a substitute soldier for $300 to start a new life out west. She struggles to prove herself, joining the boys of Virginia and living among them. The three protagonists charge ahead, despite the sorrow and fear that surrounds them. They keep their faith and bravery in not only their surroundings, but in themselves. The author's note contains information on the main characters of the story, along with other books to explore on the relevant subjects. Miller shares with readers that all history is, indeed, a story. Recommended general purchase for both school and public libraries.-Krista Welz, North Bergen High School, NJ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2014
Grades 3-6 The Civil War is moving north to Gettysburg, where Grace and Tillie live. Grace, a free black, has a stubborn streak that puts her in the position of helping runaways along the Underground Railroad while being in danger herself. Tillie, a spoiled, carefree girl, holds romantic notions about the war, until its realities march right into the house where she is staying. Meanwhile, Annie, a 13-year-old Virginian restless after the deaths of her brothers, cuts her curls, dons her father's clothing, and runs off to join the Confederate army. While the girls don't necessarily understand the details of the war, they think they know who the enemy isuntil they stare into the faces of the dead, dying, weak, and those trying to gain their freedom. The brutality of Pickett's Charge on the final day of Gettysburg and the hardships faced by the soldiers are never glossed over, nor is the fear the townspeople feel when the war approaches their doorsteps. A unique, exciting work based on published diaries, accounts, and other primary sources.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)