Awards

• Short-listed for Sasquatch Award 2000

Overview

From Newbery Honor-winning author Mary Stoltz comes a poignant and realistic story of brother pitted against brother during the Civil War. This chapter book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 6 to 8 who are ready to read independently. ""A good choice for introducing historical fiction.""--School Library Journal Tom Rigby didn't think that anything could ever come between him and his twin, Jack. But things begin to change when Tom learns that they are not allowed to play with their friend Aaron anymore because he's a slave. Tom is upset, but Jack doesn't seem to care. All Jack cares about is playing soldier. Eleven years later, when war breaks out, Jack joins the Confederation army. But Tom can't bring himself to fight for a cause he doesn't believe in--slavery. So Tom rides north to join the Union army--even though he knows he may one day have to face his brother on the battlefield.

Full Product Details

9780064420884

Table of Contents

Reviews

Realistic and poignantly drawn....A good choice for introducing historical fiction. -- School Library Journal

Stolz (Coco Grimes, 1994, etc.) fleshes out - barely - a sentimental Civil War ballad about brothers who share a hobby horse, and years later, another steed in the aftermath of battle. Tom Rigby's excitement as he awakens on his ninth birthday changes to outrage when he learns that the slave Aaron, a companion to him and his twin for most of their lives, has been summarily sent to the quarter by their father to be a field hand. Although he listens reluctantly to the warnings of the household slaves (who maintain that making a fuss will only endanger Aaron), Tom defiantly gives his birthday toys away to the slave children. He has an argument with twin Jack, who echoes their father's advocacy of slavery, although the riff isn't wide enough to prevent him from sharing his hobby horse when Jack's breaks. Twelve years later, Tom - a Union officer - recalls that time as he offers a ride to a wounded Confederate soldier who looks only too familiar. Stolz focuses more on her characters' emotional states than on plot or background detail, and readers who are less familiar with the era will wonder why Aaron was sent away, and why the slave children have to hide their new toys from the overseen Paul Fleischman's Bull Run or Gary Paulsen's Nightjohn (both, 1993) afford more insight into the realities of slavery and of what Stolz calls this brothers' war. (Kirkus Reviews)

Author Information

Mary Stolz (1920-2006) published her first book for young people in 1950 with Ursula Nordstrom and never looked back. She wrote more than sixty books, which were published in nearly thirty languages, and received two Newbery Honors (for Belling the Tiger and The Noonday Friends). She was also the recipient of the Kerlan Award, which honored her entire body of work. Sergio Martinez was born and lives in Mexico City. He illustrated Weapons & Warfare by Milton Meltzer. His paintings have been exhibited in galleries around the world.

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