The Blue and the Gray

About history, remembering. The boy juxtaposes the past & present of a former Civil War battlefield that will soon be his property in the same way that we all do when we stand at the site of some historically significant moment. Poetic, sentimental, but I didn't appreciate the father's observation that the Civil War was the "worst kind" of war because it was "us against us." Brother against brother. I disagree, but getting the kids to think that people who were once "friends" could end up so extremely on different sides of a war or an issue is valuable to an extent. I'll have my son read it, but it's not a "must read." I'm anxious to see his reaction.

The story is set in poetry form and is about two best friends, one black and one white, who are wandering around a piece of historic land that one of the friend's father is building two new houses on. As the boys are walking, the dad explains that the land was where the Civil War took place. The boys also learn why the war was fought and how the results of the war abolished slavery. The Blue and The Gray is a book that I would use to illustrate he importance of friendship without being based on the color of our skin as well as learning about the Civil War.

“The Blue and the Gray” is a very powerful book forcing children to remember everything men fought and died for during the Civil War. The main characters are two young best friend boys, one white and one black. They cannot even imagine a time when brother would fight against brother, or black would fight against white. This just goes to show that our society has come a long way. Many men lost their lives in order to secure freedom, and it is very important for readers to understand the sacrifices that were made so children could be friends with the opposite race.

2 little boys who are next door neighbors are best friends. Both of their houses are being newly built, but the land that it is being built on has a lot of history that goes along with it. One of the little boy's dad tells them all about the history of the land they are standing on. He tells them all about the war and the battles that were fought between men in the same country. The boys and the dad both want to honor the land that was fought on by so many men. This book is a great way to teach students about the civil war because it is a current story that alludes back to the past. This could be a great opportunity to begin research with students on civil war locations in the past, and what they look like today.

Summary: The two boys in the story are best friends and are helping one father help fix up a house. The boys started discussing the field across from the house and the father began describing how not everything is always as it seems. The boys learned from the father that the Civil War was a huge change for our country and learned why the war was fought. Together, the boys embarked on a journey through the story of the Civil War and realized that they are so lucky to be living in the year they live in. They could not imagine not being friends or fighting against each other.

Review: Bunting is able to capture her young readers attentions through the deep message of diversity and how it does not matter what color someones skin is. Bunting show more uses the topic of the Civil War as a way to force children to be emerged in learning about our country's history and how life today is not how it has always been. The young boys had no idea that there was a war fought based on the characteristics the father told them and when they learned that brothers fought against brothers they were shocked. The boys could not imagine "hating" each other and felt like the field across from the home should have a plaque stating the battle fought on the land. The father explained to the boys that many battles are forgotten about, but they cannot forget what was won because of all of the forgotten battles; their friendship. show less

“The Blue and The Gray,” is a pretty educational book about the civil war. The story is about how two young friends learn about the war from one of the boy’s father. The father and son are planning to move into the house soon, and as they explore the father explains to his son and his son’s friend JJ about how the land they are moving onto was an important part of the civil war. By learning about the war the two friends learn that if it were still around, they may not have been friends anymore. But the two refuse to think that they would not be friends, because they are best friends! I think this was a good story about two friends learning about the history of their land. Teachers can use this as a good learning opportunity for show more a social studies class. I think the illustrator did a good job at making things look realistic, but kid friendly. It was a very good read. show less

This book is a narrative poem set during present day with flashbacks to the Civil War. Two boys of different races are now friends and wonder if the soldiers know what they fought for long ago is now a living monument.