Overview

Set during the American Civil War, The Soldier Boy follows Tom Somers, a brave and patriotic teenager from a small Northern town who is inspired to join the Union Army after the attack on Fort Sumter. Although young, Tom is filled with a deep sense of duty and courage. He defies the doubts of adults and enlists, determined to do his part in preserving the Union. The story charts his journey from civilian life to that of a soldier - through enlistment, training, hardships in camp, and eventually, into the heart of battle. Throughout the novel, Tom faces danger, hunger, exhaustion, and the moral challenges of war. But his perseverance, quick thinking, and moral character help him overcome adversity. Along the way, he earns the respect of his fellow soldiers and officers, becoming a symbol of youthful heroism and dedication. The novel is not just about military action - it also explores themes of honor, patriotism, loyalty, and moral strength, with Tom often acting as a role model for younger readers of the time. About the Author William Taylor Adams (July 30, 1822 - March 27, 1897), pseudonym Oliver Optic, was an academic, author, and a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Adams first began to write at the age of 28, and his first book, Hatchie, the Guardian Slave (1853), was published under the pseudonym of Warren T. Ashton. It was only a modest success, but Adams was undaunted. In 1854 Adams produced his first real hit, the initial volume in the Boat Club series. Adams continued to write until he died in Dorchester, March 27, 1897. Among his best-known works were the two ""Blue & Gray"" series, which were set during the Civil War. Adams wrote well over 100 books in total, most of them for a boy audience, and the majority of these in series of four to six volumes published under a pseudonym. Two novels published in his own name, The Way of the World and Living Too Fast, were aimed at adult readers but fell flat. Though ""Oliver Optic"" was the pseudonym he used most, his work also appeared under the bylines ""Irving Brown,"" ""Clingham Hunter, M.D.,"" and ""Old Stager."" Like many children's authors of his day, he was additionally an editor, and many of his works first appeared in Oliver Optic's Magazine. Adams' writing was criticized by Louisa May Alcott, among others. Alcott used her story Eight Cousins to deplore Adams' use of slang, his cast of bootblacks and newsboys, and his stories of police courts and saloons. Adams responded in kind, pointing out Alcott's own use of slang and improbable plot twists. (wikipedia.org)

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