This is simply one of the best historical fiction reads I've picked up in a long, long time.
My 13-year-old son loved it!
I loved it so much, I would be excited to teach it to 7th grade, instead of another Civil War book that I mentioned in a previous For Educators post.
For one thing, the MC is younger, and infinitely easier for students to relate to, as he behaves as a kiddo - wanting to fight and help support his mother, even after losing a brother in battle, entering the military by lying about his age, playing his bugle, wanting fiercely to go home and circumnavigating the rules whenever he can.
I asked the publisher, Sleeping Bear Press, if it had an educator's guide. Sleeping Bear offers many great picture book teaching materials, but only a few teaching guides for its MG titles.
Here's the response from the author, Michael Shoulders:
"I'm in the process in creating one along with my wife who is a middle school English teacher."
When it's available, I'll post about it, and provide the link, in For Educators. I'm really looking forward to spreading the word about this book!
