The Curse of the Buttons

Gr 3–6—Anne Ylvisaker continues her series about the Button clan. These loosely connected books feature different generations of the family across various historical periods. Here readers meet Ike, who is left behind when all his brothers, his father, and his uncle go off to fight for the Union in the Civil War. He desperately wants to find a way to sneak off and join them, but ultimately finds that there is a war (of sorts) to fight at home, too. Ylvisaker's writing is clear and engaging, but the plot is a bit predictable and the characters develop in standard lines for the genre. Still, readers will find a lot to relate to and cheer for in Ike, who merely wants to live up to his uncle's legacy of adventurous deeds. While not the most original historical fiction book in recent years, there will be a spot in medium-sized libraries for this sweet, fast-paced story, especially where the previous installments are popular. The author's note at the end aptly explains the research process and encourages students to discover their own local history.—Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK