The Civil War is the bloodiest war that happened in our country, killing millions and uprooting our country both economically and personally. We've heard of places like Antietam and Gettysburg. We also know the name of people associated with the Civil War, such as Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln. Why do we know this? Because it is taught in curriculum and found in textbooks. But there is always the hidden documented history of the Civil War most people don't know about. These are true stories about the women of the Civil War.
Long, hot days at work, most of the time twelve hours of labor six days a week. Coming home after walking to and from work stained with twelve hours of labor and dust. Thinking about the danger of the job but knowing it needed to be done to keep a roof over their families heads and food on the table.
Most of the workers were considered women in that era. Today, they would be considered children and teenagers. Girls as young as 10 were chosen because they hands were small and quick, making for a more productive product.
The product? Ammunition for the guns and muskets used by both sides of the Civil War. Imagine sitting at a table filled with small metal balls, paper, string, and gunpowder everywhere. There is no safety equipment nearby and no regulations keeping the workplace safe. It was just the girls working together in cramped quarters, wearing the traditional heavy hoop skirts, working in a potentially life-threatening job. And during the Civil War, three different tragedies occurred...
This book is the stories of not only the tragedies, but also about the girls themselves, and the investigation and outcome of those responsible. Tanya Anderson shares with the reader not only the stories, but also her in-depth research and how she become intrigued with this part of the Civil War. What is most impressive about this is that voice the book is written in. This isn't a dry tome of American history, but voices of the victims, witnesses, and others that were part of these tragedies, including Abraham Lincoln.
What makes this a draw for teens is the size of this narrative non-fiction and the interest the author creates to pique interest in what will happen next. Perfect for junior high and high school libraries, this should be on the shelves showing readers that women were passive bystanders of the Civil War, but involved in many ways in the conflict. Highly recommended.
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1 comment:
Thank you for such a lovely review!
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