William P. Robertson & David Rimer

This is not a paint by numbers action tale with little or no background. This is a slice of 19th century life focused on brothers Henry and Willie Cole. This approach acts to intensify the tension and violence of war when it is presented in well written passages. Henry and Willie mature from the night their family's barn burns to the fields of Gettysburg. Because of the high level of historically accurate detail expect realizing that you had never known /considered a certain fact or show more viewpoint before. A good read. show less

I won this book thru Library Thing and it was a very quick read. It follows two fictional characters who are brothers, Henry and Willie Cole. I really did like the writing style of this author and felt like I was there along with the characters seeing and experiencing what they were doing. I have never read any books by this author before and I was really impressed by it. This book was fiction, but based upon actual events that took place at Gettysburg. I highly recommend this one to all show more history buffs. show less

Even if I hadn’t read the other series, I already know , they were all good.

The story is readable and well-described. Life at the time of war are presented. The author proved to be skilled in this genre, transporting readers to a time, where the story exist.
Using pictures serves not only as an ice-breaker, but it also provides information and another sight on the book.

Using also the younger generation as the center of the story pulls a great impact to the younger generation. It enables show more them to connect to what the characters are really feeling at that time, how one feels under the pressure of life and death, and to grow and become a true person in the middle of a Civil War.

The book is more like an educational tool than entertainment, but they were both. I’m being informed and at the same time, I enjoyed reading.

This is an easy way to educate people about America’s history not by giving long and tedious lectures, but by letting them read a book/series/novel that would entertain them and keep them reading.

I recommend this to all historians or should I say educators out there. Since using this tool to teach kids would be enjoyable. And to teenagers too, who want to virtually experience the Civil War. show less