The American Civil War may be 150 years ago, but it still fascinates adults and children alike. When people think about the Civil War, they think of Antietam, Gettysburg, and other great battles in the east. They think of the Emancipation Proclamation and the freeing of the Black slaves in the south. With the possible exception of Bloody Kansas, few people are aware that there were Civil War battles east of the Mississippi, but there were.
I learned how few people were aware of the Civil War in the west when I taught New Mexico history to 7th graders. My parents were surprised when their children started talking about Civil War battles. Some even told me that I was wrong, and that there were no battles here. There were, and had the Confederacy won them, the war might have turned out very differently. I wrote Rebels Along the Rio Grande because there was such a paucity of material on this subject.
Here’s a list of books about the Civil War for middle school readers. Some are fiction. Some are nonfiction. But only mine are about what happened in the New Mexico territory during the war. On this topic, I am out standing, alone, in my field.
I learned how few people were aware of the Civil War in the west when I taught New Mexico history to 7th graders. My parents were surprised when their children started talking about Civil War battles. Some even told me that I was wrong, and that there were no battles here. There were, and had the Confederacy won them, the war might have turned out very differently. I wrote Rebels Along the Rio Grande because there was such a paucity of material on this subject.
Here’s a list of books about the Civil War for middle school readers. Some are fiction. Some are nonfiction. But only mine are about what happened in the New Mexico territory during the war. On this topic, I am out standing, alone, in my field.
Behind Enemy Lines by Seymour Reit
Emma Edmonds may be Canadian-born, but when the Civil War begins, she crops her hair, dons men's clothing, and enlists as a spy for the Union Army. Disguised as, among others, a peddler, a slave, and a bookkeeper, she gathers information while risking discovery and death for the sake of freedom. This is fictional, but readers will forget that and be caught up in Emma’s harrowing escapes from discovery.
Emma Edmonds may be Canadian-born, but when the Civil War begins, she crops her hair, dons men's clothing, and enlists as a spy for the Union Army. Disguised as, among others, a peddler, a slave, and a bookkeeper, she gathers information while risking discovery and death for the sake of freedom. This is fictional, but readers will forget that and be caught up in Emma’s harrowing escapes from discovery.
Spies in the Civil War for Kids: A History Book by Daniel Lewer. Any kid who reads Behind Enemy Lines will want to follow up with this book, where they will learn the facts behind the fiction. It’s fascinating to learn about the clever plots, inventive gadgets, and clever disguises that aren’t always presented in the history books. Lots of full-color illustrations and battle maps draw in reluctant readers.
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick
I love Rodman Philbrick’s writing, and this novel is among his best. There’s a good reason it’s a Newbery Honor winner. Homer is a 12 year-old orphan whose older brother, Harold, has been sold into the Union Army. Homer runs away from Pine Swamp, Maine, to find Harold, and finds himself in the company of thieves, scallywags, and spies. In turns funny and sad, readers will be pulled along to the dramatic climax that takes place on Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg.
I love Rodman Philbrick’s writing, and this novel is among his best. There’s a good reason it’s a Newbery Honor winner. Homer is a 12 year-old orphan whose older brother, Harold, has been sold into the Union Army. Homer runs away from Pine Swamp, Maine, to find Harold, and finds himself in the company of thieves, scallywags, and spies. In turns funny and sad, readers will be pulled along to the dramatic climax that takes place on Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg.
If Gettysburg is your thing, I recommend you read my novel The Bent Reed after finishing Philbrick’s book. Sarah McCoombs feels isolated and uncomfortable when her mother pulls her from school and allows a doctor to treat her scoliosis with a cumbersome body cast. When the McCoombs farm becomes a battle field and then a hospital, Sarah must reach deep inside herself to find the strength to cope as she nurses wounded soldiers from both sides.
Bull Run by Paul Fleischman is another of my favorite books. The winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and an ALA Notable Children's Book, this novel tells the story of the Civil War’s first great battle from sixteen different points of view representing north and south, male and female, black and white. I’ve used this book in my classroom, assigning the different parts to different students, and it was an emotional experience, especially when some of the voices disappeared and the students knew that they had been killed.
Don't Know Much About the Civil War: Everything You Need to Know about America's Greatest Conflict But Never Learned by Kenneth C. Davis
Part of a series of “Don’t Know Much About” books, this book wasn’t really written specifically for middle grade readers, but it is extremely readable, and a great resource for even reluctant students. New York Times bestselling author Ken Davis describes every major event of the Civil War era, but he also includes the little tidbits that students love. A great, encyclopedic book that kids can peruse and jump around through.
Part of a series of “Don’t Know Much About” books, this book wasn’t really written specifically for middle grade readers, but it is extremely readable, and a great resource for even reluctant students. New York Times bestselling author Ken Davis describes every major event of the Civil War era, but he also includes the little tidbits that students love. A great, encyclopedic book that kids can peruse and jump around through.
My trilogy, Rebels Along the Rio Grande tells the story of three boys from different cultures. When his brother sells the family mules to a regiment of Texas Mounted Volunteers, Jemmy Martin becomes a packer, a teamster, and finally a medic as he follows his mules in a desperate attempt to bring them home safely. Raul Atencio is the nephew of a prosperous Socorro, New Mexico merchant who sells goods to the Union Army. He’s delivering supplies when the Confederates arrive and he becomes an unwilling participant in the defense of the Fort. In search of security and a full belly, Irish orphan Cian Lochlann gives up gold prospecting to join the Colorado Volunteers, then finds himself at the Battle of Glorieta Pass, which historians have called the "Gettysburg of the West." This fictional series, heavily based on true events, tells the story of the Confederate invasion of New Mexico from its beginning, presented in book 1, Where Duty Calls, the dramatic climax in The Worst Enemy, right through their final retreat in The Famished Country.
Do you know another middle grade book on the Civil War that you could recommend? Leave it in the comments to help other readers.
To celebrate the publication of The Famished Country on October 15, I’m giving away two paperback and two ebook copies of each of my Civil War titles. If you would like one, reply with the name of the book you would like, and whether you want a paperback or digital copy. I would very much appreciate if you left a review on the book you received.
Many of the links in this blog post link to Bookshop.org, an online bookseller that gives 75% of its profits to independent bookstores, authors, and reviewers. If you click through these links and make a purchase on Bookshop.org, I will receive a commission, and Bookshop.org will give a matching commission to independent booksellers. If you’re not looking to buy, you can find or request these books from your local library.
To celebrate the publication of The Famished Country on October 15, I’m giving away two paperback and two ebook copies of each of my Civil War titles. If you would like one, reply with the name of the book you would like, and whether you want a paperback or digital copy. I would very much appreciate if you left a review on the book you received.
Many of the links in this blog post link to Bookshop.org, an online bookseller that gives 75% of its profits to independent bookstores, authors, and reviewers. If you click through these links and make a purchase on Bookshop.org, I will receive a commission, and Bookshop.org will give a matching commission to independent booksellers. If you’re not looking to buy, you can find or request these books from your local library.
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