Kirkus Reviews

<p>Goodman tells the story of Robert Henry Hendershot, the famous "Drummer Boy of the Rappahannock." Robert runs away from home to join the Union army and finds himself at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862, three months after Antietam. Ambrose Burnside is now in command of the Army of the Potomac, taking General George McClellan's place, and Robert is his drummer boy. Not so much the story of the war or even the single battle, this is about one boy's chance to prove himself and make his mother proud. It is a 12-year-old's view of his role in one major battle. Robert crosses the pontoon bridge, takes a prisoner, becomes famous, and meets President Lincoln. He even has a poem written about him. As the author is careful to point out, this is a novel based on a true story. She has "dreamed up" Robert's conversations and private thoughts while staying true to the essence of Robert's actual story. This entry in the Ready-for-Chapters series succeeds in presenting an interesting slice of history and explaining its context in an afterword. It is a good example of how an early chapter book can provide substantial historical material in a simple format and still do its subject justice. A solid offering for young readers. (poem, bibliography) (Fiction. 6-9)</p>

ALA Booklist

In this Ready-for-Chapter book in the Brave Kids: True Stories from America's Past series, Goodman introduces Robert, one of the more than 10,000 underage boys who sneaked into uniform during the Civil War. After defying his mother and running away, Robert, 12, became a drummer for the Union army. At the Battle of Fredericksburg, he proved himself a hero, risking his life and even capturing a rebel soldier. His story was in the newspapers, and General Burnside and Abraham Lincoln publicly honored him. With a good deal of dialogue, the book is a quick read that will grab children with the fast-paced action of a boy at war, even as it fills in the decidedly non-glorious facts about the terrible defeat of the Union army at the battle that made Robert a hero.It also raises some hotly debated issues about fact and fiction in children's literature. This is fiction, so all the rules about strict documentation don't apply. Right? Well then, why that word True in the series title? How true is this story? Goodman's entertaining, informal afterword addresses these questions. It seems quoting sources doesn't always work; a book written about Robert soon after the war bragged so much that Goodman decided she didn't always believe it. She dreamed up a lot, especially about Robert's thoughts and conversations; but she also says that, even though her hero was a real boy whose exploits were written up at the time, history is really a combination of what happened and what people think happened. That's a statement to make us think. First the exciting story, then the laidback commentary: together they make this a good springboard, even for older readers, for talking about history, story, truth, and the meaning of war.

Horn Book

Based on the experiences of a real twelve-year-old drummer boy in the Union Army, this is a fictionalized account of Robert's service during the Civil War. Robert runs away from home to volunteer for duty, ends up capturing a Confederate soldier, and much later is invited to the White House to meet President Lincoln. The black-and-white drawings add to the tale's drama. An author's note provides historical details. Reading list.

School Library Journal (Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2003)

Gr 1-4 A fictional account of the defining moment in the life of a 12-year-old drummer boy. The story opens as Robert joins the Union Army despite his widowed mother's misgivings. At the Battle of Fredericksburg, he sneaks into a group of soldiers who are ferreting out Confederate sharpshooters. Despite his youth, he takes a prisoner and becomes the hero of the day. His bravery brings him to the attention of President Lincoln. An extensive afterword provides additional information about the real Hendershot, and about the nature of history. Adventure and a youthful point of view keep this story moving right along. The Civil War background combined with pencil illustrations of the boy's experiences result in effective historical fiction for beginning chapter-book readers. Pat Leach, Lincoln City Libraries, NE