Like a River: A Civil War Novel

Gr 5–8—Three years have passed since the beginning of the Civil War, when two underage teens, West Virginian Paul Settles and Ohioan Leander Jordan, both with secrets to guard, enlist in the Union Army. Their paths cross in a military hospital, where their mysteries begin to unravel, but the plot takes them in separate directions. Wiechman's debut novel details the pecking order of the Army camps, the grim hospitals, and survival in the prison. The plot is presented in short chapters, with an array of compassionate characters. American waterways comprise settings, as well as the motif for the theme of change: ("'Like a river,' Polly said. 'My pap al'ys said folks is like rivers, ever a-changin' and ever a-changin' others.'") The rich language and artful imagery will stay with readers long after finishing the last page. Well-researched details of Andersonville Prison and the Sultana Explosion are supported by an author's note with photos and a bibliography. This joins other great middle grade novels about the Civil War including Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulson (Delacorte, 1998), The Mostly True Adventure of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick (Scholastic, 2009), and the YA novel A Soldier's Secret: The Incredible True Story of Sarah Edmonds by Marissa Moss (Abrams, 2012). A truly excellent first purchase for all fans of historical fiction who enjoy a hint of romance.—Sharon M. Lawler, formerly of Randolph Elementary, Randolph AFB, TX