Girl in Blue written by Ann Rinaldi

Ever since a guest speaker from Mosby Heritage Association came to school, I have really been hooked on the Civil War or the War Between the States! I live very close to where the battle of Bull Run took place 150 years ago as well as the reenactment last summer. Girl in Blue is the 3rd book I have read about girls enlisting in the Army to fight during the Civil War.  The other 2 books were non fiction where this book is a fictional story based on an actual person from Michicgan who fought in the Civil War. This story was based on Sara Emma Edmonds.  I love American History, what is taught in schools doesn't due our history justice. Only bits ans pieces are taught. I can't say I ever heard about women enlisting in the Civil War or the Revloutionary War either for that matter.

This is definitely a historical fiction story, Sarah is a strong lady of character, escapes her father's abusive hands.  How does she hide her identity to join up! Read the book to find out. 

The War Within by Carol Matas

I took this book from the library shelves of my school library. Not really certain why except to say it is a historical novel about the Civil War. I picked this book over the past week, as I was reading this book I was very surprised to find out this is more then about the war between the states or the Civil War. I know that during my US History classes i was taught about the internment of the Japanese Americans during WWII but I don't remember ever being taught about how the Jews in the south were treated by Rule 11 and Grant. It took President Lincoln to overturn Rule 11 that allowed the Jews to return to their homes and businesses in Mississippi. This is definitely missing from our history books.

The Union troops were fighting to 'free' the slaves but in turn it was the North imprisoning the Jews because they thought they were violating trade regulations. So much is missing from our US history books.