Will at the Battle of Gettysburg, 1863

Gr 4—7—Twelve-year-old Will dreams of the heroic exploits he will undertake once he convinces his parents that he is old enough to be a drummer in the Union Army. However, when war comes, he finds that combat isn't nearly as glorious as he had imagined. At the end of June and into July, the 2400 residents of his town are thrust into the middle of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Will finds himself actively participating—more reluctantly than in his earlier daydreams, but determined nonetheless. He challenges a Confederate soldier who is rounding up free Negroes to sell as slaves, helps a Union colonel get an urgent message to General Meade, and endangers himself to save the life of a Confederate friend. Will sees firsthand the chaotic and horrific realities of war and death. His level of involvement could come across as contrived, but Calkhoven's notes make clear how townspeople of all ages were pressed into action. Will is a more contemplative protagonist than Rodman Philbrick's protagonist in The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (Scholastic, 2009), and while his internal struggles may seem a little moralistic for his age and time, his confusion about how he can count a Confederate drummer among his friends rings true. With back matter that includes an extensive time line, a list of historical figures who make an appearance in the story, and a detailed author's note, this solid piece of fiction will appeal to history buffs and reluctant readers alike.—Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA