A Civil War drummer boy The diary of William Bircher, 1861-1865

Gr 4-6-These selected excerpts from diaries capture the daily lives, events, and emotions of three young people who lived through the turbulent years before or during the Civil War. Introductory overviews are followed by portions of the individuals' diaries, interspersed with informative sidebars and insets, sepia-tinted photographs and full-color reproductions, a craft or cooking activity, and an abbreviated time line. Younger readers will identify most closely with Berry's words in A Confederate Girl because of her age (10) and writing style. Bircher's diary chronicles his life at the age of 15 while Forten's journal begins when she was 16. Whether chosen for assignment use or personal reading, these volumes will hold the interest of youngsters and help them understand and identify with the events, places, and people in history. Additionally, they will give students experience with primary-source materials and expand the portraits of young people as presented in such works as Jim Murphy's The Boys' War (Clarion, 1990) and Candice Ransom's Children of the Civil War (Carolrhoda, 1998).-Janie Schomberg, Leal Elementary School, Urbana, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

These volumes present actual diary entries by eighteenth- or nineteenth-century American children, although the quality of writing varies according to the author's age and education. Sidebars offer background information, craft activities, and recipes. The books are illustrated with color and black-and-white photographs, historical engravings, and reproductions. Time lines and websites are included. Bib., glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.