A Ballad of the Civil War
A Ballad of the Civil War
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Perma-Bound Edition ©1997--
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HarperCollins
Just the Series: Trophy Chapter Books   

Series and Publisher: Trophy Chapter Books   

Annotation: Weary of the war, a Union lieutenant recalls his life with his twin brother on their family's Virginia plantation and the events that led them to fight on different sides in the Civil War.
 
Reviews: 4
Catalog Number: #22250
Format: Perma-Bound Edition
Special Formats: Inventory Sale Inventory Sale Chapter Book Chapter Book
Common Core/STEAM: Common Core Common Core
Publisher: HarperCollins
Copyright Date: 1997
Edition Date: 1998 Release Date: 08/08/98
Illustrator: Martinez, Sergio,
Pages: 54 pages
ISBN: Publisher: 0-06-442088-4 Perma-Bound: 0-605-45776-X
ISBN 13: Publisher: 978-0-06-442088-4 Perma-Bound: 978-0-605-45776-8
Dewey: Fic
LCCN: 96054859
Dimensions: 21 cm.
Language: English
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews

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. <p> 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&#39;&#39; 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&#39;s advocacy of slavery, although the rift isn&#39;t wide enough to prevent him from sharing his hobby horse when Jack&#39;s breaks. Twelve years later, Tom--a Union officer--recalls that time as he offers a ride to a wounded Confederate soldier who only looks too familiar. Stolz focuses more on her characters&#39; 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 overseer. Paul Fleischman&#39;s Bull Run or Gary Paulsen&#39;s Nightjohn (both, 1993) afford more insight into the realities of slavery and of what Stolz callsthis brothers' war.'' (b&w illustrations, not seen) (Fiction. 9-11)</p> "

ALA Booklist

Based on a Civil War ballad passed down through Stolz's family, this story begins with twins Tom and Jack Rigby on their ninth birthday in 1850. Tom is angry that his father has sent the twins' slave and boon companion, Aaron, away from the big house to live in the quarters for getting uppity. As he grows up, Tom never forgets his relationship with Aaron or stops seeing slavery as unjust, though he keeps his opinions largely to himself. When the Civil War begins, the brothers enlist on opposite sides. Although the novel is too sketchy to make a satisfying book, the story nevertheless raises issues that could make for interesting class discussion during units on the Civil War. (Reviewed October 1, 1997)

Horn Book

This thin chapter book doesn't add much to the sentimental ballad, included in an afterword, that inspired it. Twin brothers Tom and Jack go from playing war on hobbyhorses as boys to fighting on opposite sides in the Civil War as men. Without a fully developed backdrop, the brothers are little more than cardboard cutouts--one sympathetic to the slaves, one not.

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Horn Book
Word Count: 5,907
Reading Level: 4.0
Interest Level: 2-5
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 4.0 / points: 1.0 / quiz: 30338 / grade: Middle Grades
Reading Counts!: reading level:5.8 / points:3.0 / quiz:Q00878
Lexile: 680L
Guided Reading Level: T
Fountas & Pinnell: T

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.


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