Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction * ALA Best Book for Young Adults * ALA Notable Children's Book In this brilliant fictional tour de force, which the New York Times called "a deft, poignant novel," Newbery Medal-winning author Paul Fleischman re-creates the first great battle of the Civil War from the points of view of sixteen participants. Northern and Southern, male and female, white and black. Here are voices that tell of the dreams of glory, the grim reality, the hopes, horror, and folly of a nation discovering the true nature of war. This extraordinary novel captures the conflict through a chorus of voices: Multiple Perspectives: Follow the battle through the eyes of sixteen different people—from a Union sketch artist and a Confederate courier to a slave girl seeking freedom. - Union and Confederate Voices: Hear the hopes, fears, and motivations from both sides of the conflict, painting a complete and humanizing picture of the war. - Historically Authentic Detail: Witness the first major battle of the Civil War, from the patriotic fervor of the send-offs to the shocking reality of the battlefield at Bull Run. - Award-Winning Historical Fiction: Perfect for middle grade readers and classrooms, this Scott O’Dell Award winner brings American history to life. Grade 5 Up. Through the alternating viewpoints of 16 characters from various walks of life, readers gain insight into the first battle of the Civil War and into the nature of war in general. Poignant, dramatic cameos seamlessly woven together make for compelling historical fiction. Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. A Civil War drama told in sixteen voices, this ‘is a heartbreaking and remarkably vivid portrait of a war that remains our nation’s bloodiest conflict.… Fleischman’s artistry is nothing short of astounding.’ —Publishers Weekly. ‘Fleischman has done what he does best—create a unique piece of fiction with echoes of his poetry throughout.’ —H. ‘Outstanding… unforgettable as historical fiction… an important book for every library.’ —SLJ. Notable Children's Books of 1994 (ALA) 1994 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA) 1994 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book) Best Books of 1993 (SLJ) 1993 Books for Youth Editors' Choices (BL) 1994 Teachers' Choices (IRA) Notable 1994 Childrens' Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC) 1994 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE) 1994 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for Children 1993 Choices: The Year's Best Books (Publishers Weekly) Children's Books of 1993 (Library of Congress) 1994 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library) 100 Books for Reading and Sharing 1994 (NY Public Library) 1994 Silver Medal for Literature (Commonwealth Club of California) 1994 Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award Winner (Westchester, NY Library System) Paul Fleischman 's novels, poetry, picture books, and nonfiction are known for innovation and multiple viewpoints. He received the Newbery Medal for Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices and a Newbery Honor for Graven Images, and he was a National Book Award finalist for Breakout. His books bridging the page and stage include Bull Run, Seek, and Mind's Eye. For the body of his work, he's been the United States nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. He lives in California. www.paulfleischman.net.
