Rinaldi, Ann. The Last Full Measure.
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin, 218p, 2010, 17.00
978-0-547-38980-6, ms VG-BN
Vividly portrays life in the town of Gettysburg during the battle. With their family, Tacy and her brother David live through the dangers, fears, and aftermath of the battle.
With her father a doctor and two brothers away fighting for the Union army, fourteen-year-old Tacy lives through the days of the Battle of Gettysburg in town. Her older brother David, is in charge. He cannot fight due to a crippled leg. Tacy is headstrong and a real handful for David. During the battle the family helps hide some free Negroes, attend to wounded, and meet Confederates both respectful and not. After the fighting Tacy and David continue their father’s work of burying bodies and recording the names. At this time David gives his life for his principles by following the law and refusing to let a body be dug back up.
This book gives a glimpse at what it was like for the townspeople and how ordinary citizens may be called on to do extraordinary feats.
The characters are well drawn and it is obvious that both the locale and action during the battle are well researched. This will be a useful addition to the collection when students study the Civil War. Perfect for eighth graders.Theal, Joan
2 comments:
Rinaldi is a gifted writer of historical fiction for young readers. This book draws students into the time period in a very visceral way. I intend to include it as part of the extention menu in my Civil War unit.
This sounds like a great book to use during a civil war unit. Children can get a better sense of a time period in history from books such s this one than from simply memorizing facts in history.
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