$16.99 Novel/Civil War/BelongingISBN: 978-0-399-25030-9
Luke was going to turn twelve on his next birthday. No one knew for sure about his age. Luke does not want to be living as a slave anymore, so he decides to run from home and join with the Union Soldiers.
Luke lived with his Aunt Eugenia. She cared for Luke and works for a white Family. She cleaned, cooked, and did laundry for the family. His uncle-“Unc Steph” taught Luke how to chop wood and other chores. Upon leaving to become a Union Soldier, he thought Unc Steph would declare “That’s what I call a Right Grown Man!” This made Luke feel proud.
Daylily, a black nine year old girl was hiding in the woods while her sister and her two babies were killed by soldiers. Daylily is now forced to fend for herself.
Caswell, a white seven year old boy loses his mother to a fire in their plantation house, thought to be started by Yankees. His father, a racist, had left earlier to join the Confederate army. Now, Caswell is on his own.
The three children meet in the woods. They do not like each other upon meeting, but are forced to work together to survive. The fighting, killing, and loss they witness is graphic and violent. Shades of Gray by Carolyn Reeder (S & S,1989) and Black Angels by Rita Murphy (Delacorte, 2001) add to the impact of war on children.
The events in the story are sometimes confusing and the slave dialect is difficult to understand for the Freshman or Sophomore reader. It might be helpful to have students take turns reading to get the story started and continue with class discussions. “Brown,s first YA novel will grab readers with its searing survival story and, most of all, its questions about the meaning of family”. (Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2009 Booklist)
The three children experience a coming of age while making their way slowly to the North. They move in constant fear and sickness. Their hunger for food as well as family leads them to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. For the reader, this close location will come as a significant point of history.
This story of survival, slavery, race relations, and coming of age, gives the reader a sense of appreciation of freedom and civil rights.
Hi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteSounds like an intriguing book. You might want to consider putting the summary all in one area and then move on to the critical/analytical assessments. How might teachers use this in the classroom? Might it complement a particular class or unit of study? Consider putting in LINKS to the other texts you mention. Happy blogging!
I thought this book sounded very interesting. Your writing is so well planned out and reflective. I only was going to mention the links as well, but I think this looks great.
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