Review by Booklist Review
Popular blogger and Civil War reenactor Thompson kicks off the Guts & Glory nonfiction series with an entertaining overview of the war that divided the nation. While each chapter covers a battle, such as Gettysburg, Antietam, and Shiloh, this endeavor is not a greatest-hits recap. With a focus on heroes or villains rather than political statements, the battle descriptions feature the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts (one of the first African American regiments recognized by the Union), Belle Boyd (a Confederate female spy who smuggled messages to Stonewall Jackson), a great locomotive chase, the first battle between metal warships, and one of the last cavalry melees in military history. What brings these events to life, particularly for reluctant readers, is Thompson's spirited, conversational narration (e.g., the Confederates took the USS Merrimack and upgraded it like an iPhone, encasing it in four inches of iron plating). Dramatic sketches, period photographs, battle statistics, and related facts from food and music to sharpshooters and the Mason-Dixon Line should keep students engaged.--Leeper, Angela Copyright 2014 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This action-packed Civil War title launches a nonfiction series dedicated to extraordinary chapters of history. Badassoftheweek.com creator Thompson adopts an urgent and sometimes humorous tone that conveys infectious enthusiasm in examining all facets of this conflict that "would claim more lives than every previous American war combined and redefine the United States of America forever." The narrative effectively sketches the major causes of the conflict, bringing to life the politics, combat, and key participants. Many chapters focus heavily on major battles (sidebars delineate numbers of combatants, casualties, and victors), while others cover famous figures including Harriet Tubman; the role of women as spies, supporters, and combatants; and lesser-known political events, such as the surprisingly tense reelection of President Lincoln. Chatty, colloquial comparisons (Thompson describes a Confederate ironclad ship as being "upgraded... like an iPhone") are accessible if a bit pandering. In all, it's a rousing introduction to this defining conflict that makes the history appealing and relatable. Period photographs and other images appear throughout; final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. Agent: Farley Chase, Chase Literary Agency. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-In this first of a series, history buff and reenactor Thompson displays a solid knowledge of the Civil War, hampered by an overreliance on "hip" prose. He ably covers major battles, campaigns, and figures in a roughly chronological order, mixing informational passages and fact boxes with colorful action sequences in each chapter in what could potentially have been a winning formula to grab and hold the attention of young readers. Unfortunately, Thompson's colorful prose often veers into the realm of the bizarre. The repeated use of the word dude may seem odd coming from an adult author, and readers are likely to miss many pop culture references, such as a mention of the 1990s film Anaconda or a "Mike Tyson haymaker sucker punch." The many run-on sentences will leave readers at a loss. One such sentence describing Lincoln's situation approaching the election of 1864 ends by saying that his popularity didn't "necessarily mean that everything was coming up unicorns, rainbows, and smiley-face sunshine happiness roses of joy." Thompson takes a linguistic swing for the fences and ends up spinning around and falling down at the plate. There are many other books on the Civil War for this age range that will hold a reader's attention without the bamboozling prose.-Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Blogger and author Thompson gamely takes on the task of exciting young readers about the American Civil War. A self-described Civil War student and re-enactor, Thompson expresses understanding for both sides in the conflict, aiming "to present courageous heroes and cowardly villains from both sides equally, showing each in their full glory without trying to pull any punches whatsoever." While some stories are well-known, others focus on individuals who haven't received much attention, such as Confederate spy Belle Boyd and other women who assisted the efforts of each army. While the author does not dwell on it, the role of slavery is discussed, and the efforts of African-Americans to both serve and fight are included. The book's greatest strength is its colloquial storytelling. The short chapters and extensive use of sidebars are designed to attract reluctant readers, while the breezy, sometimes-humorous style makes the history accessible. Thompson's passion for his subject is infectious. The many illustrations, photographs and archival material supplement the narrative. A thorough index will help researchers, but the material and delivery is better suited to recreational reading. There is an extensive bibliography but no source notes for chapter epigraphs or those quotes included in the text. Final art not seen.An easy, breezy series opener that should help create a few new history buffs. (Nonfiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
