The Civil War: Brother Against Brother

Gr 4–7—This series provides requisite Civil War information, such as the fomenting social issues (Causes) and battles won and lost (Brother Against Brother). In addition, there is content that puts a human face on the war and makes it relatable to readers. For instance, in Abraham Lincoln, a sidebar titled "The Stress of War" invites students to compare two photos of Lincoln, one from 1861 and one from 1865. The differences are drastic: "Lincoln aged dramatically during the war. His cheeks sunk as lines and wrinkles deeply etched their way into his face. The stress of war took a great toll on the president." The books are profusely illustrated with photos, drawings, and maps, yet not one image is superfluous. Each is captioned and forms an important part of the narrative. Suggested activities are of varying usefulness: one invites students to research a real escape story that did not take place on the Underground Railroad (Abolitionists), while another asks readers to develop a playlist commemorating Civil War leaders (Civil War Leaders).