Bull Run

Reviews

“Fleischman creates stories of deceptively simple design…that resonate with grace and beauty. His distinctive style has seldom been more effective than in this powerful and poignant account of the first major battle of the Civil War…The novel relies on individual voices to give a human face to history. The result is at once intimate and sweeping, a heartbreaking and remarkably vivid portrait of a war that remains our nation’s bloodiest conflict…This is a tour de force that should not be missed.”

“Through the alternating viewpoints of sixteen 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.”

“A superb symphony of twelve voices will both delight and move the listener in this marriage of evocative text and remarkable characterizations…The occasional crack of gunfire or lyric of a Civil War melody dresses up the compelling reading…[A] remarkable book.”

“Together the eight fictional accounts from Southerners and the eight from Northerners tell a whole story of pain, loyalty, and disillusionment. This unforgettable lesson encourages youngsters to approach a situation with the knowledge that there are more than two sides to each story; there are as many accounts as there are witnesses. This book will provide insight as well as fine material for student drama.”

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