What Was the Battle of Gettysburg?

What was...?

by Jim O'Connor, John Mantha (Illustrations), James Bennett (Illustrations)

"Four score and seven years ago..." begins Abraham Lincoln's beautiful speech commemorating the three-day battle that turned the tide of the Civil War. The South had been winning up to this point.

So how did Union troops stop General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North? With black-and-white illustrations throughout and sixteen pages of photos, this turning point in history is brought vividly to life.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Civil War, American History, Childrens, Middle Grade, Chapter Books

106 pages, Paperback

First published February 7, 2013

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"People don’t realize, you know, the civil war, if you think about it, why? People don’t ask that question, but why was there the civil war?"
Donald J. Trump

In these unpresidented times of blatant stupidity and ignorance, I would like to recommend this excellent series for Grade 3 reading level. I worked with it over several years, opening the world of history and biography to primary school students.

I guarantee that those young readers ASKED THE QUESTION ("Why was there a civil war?"), and were eager to find appropriate answers as well. The answer was not, however, that the slave holding populist president Jackson would have prevented it from happening, should he have lived on after 1845. No, that is not the answer. Not even in this simplified primary school version of history, where sentences are kept short and within the reduced vocabulary of mainstream Grade 3 classrooms: "Some plantations were huge." YES, SO HUGE!

In case "people" would like to get beyond a Grade 3 level of understanding the roots of the Civil War (thus moving beyond the deplorable brain power of a bigly successful Preced... no ... Presed ... ah ... you know what I mean), I guess there are WHOLE LIBRARIES with books on the causes and effects of that particular time in American history - because in educated environments (which the bigly stupid golf playing narcissist has never frequented), "People DO realize, you know, the civil war, if you think about it, why? People DO ask that question, but why was there the civil war?"

SO ANGRY, he was, Andrew Jackson, the slave owning president who could have prevented the future Civil War, that he saw coming, 16 years before it occurred. Why, oh why did he not live until it broke out? Another measly 16 years? Cruel, cruel fate to let him die too early! It wouldn't have happened! Right? Right! He was HUGE! Almost as HUGE as the present leader. But only almost. The nastiest presidents of the USA have been trumped. BIGLY.

If you can read, try this with your children. For I am quite angry about the civil war that will break out in 2034, sixteen years from now, and I think a lesson or two in history could prevent it perfectly well. The current Grade 3 students will be 24 by then, and I want to make sure they are safe and sound!

[Jessica Braswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very simple version of the Battle of Gettysburg. One of my only problems with this book is that I felt like it drug on and on and on. It is also a little all over the place. In the middle of a chapter, there is a two-page tidbit on whoever they are discussing in the book or if they feel there needs to be information added about a person or event. I feel like this could have waited until the end of the chapter or even in a added information section at the end of the book. However, it was easy to read because of the large text. There are pictures of the uniforms of the both armies and several other photos of things from the war.

[Noah Kenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot.

[Gabriel alexander Arras · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that this book is very informational and that it is a good book. It is of course about the battle of Gettysburg. the battle of Gettysburg is a battle that lasted for about 3 days! I don't want to give away the story so read it yourself. I recommend this book to anybody who loves history, battles and wars.

[Amira Zaidat]

You guys dont even have to guess that this is a historical story by the title. Its not the same old boring historical story tho. Its a good and interesting kind. Well, I watched Supernatural and they do have this one scene featuring the gettysburg war. So its good.

[Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was very educational. It taught me a lot about gettysburg.

[Hunter Lisiecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it because it talks about how the Battle of Gettysburg started and how it ended!

[Readasaurus Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Learned some things I didn't know. It's really sad because so many people died, all because southern states wanted to be their own country and continue slavery.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great little series. I can totally see why my son loves them and reads them multiple times.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

So earlier this week I noticed the What was... and the Where is... part of this series and now I am seeing them everywhere. Isn't that always the case. I read this one with I Am Abraham Lincoln from the Ordinary People Change the World series and my mind is full of possibilities for connecting books to develop understanding an interest in or a passion for a time, a person, an event that will stick with them and foster new questions.

[Ramon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A los bibliómanos nos apasiona encontrar libros en cualquier punto turístico y comprar libros que sirvan de referencia y recuerdos de las sitios que se visitan. Empaparte un poco más de aquello que con el tiempo justo en una agenda apretada te consuelas con algunas fotos y una visita apresurada. El tiempo es oro y el coste de un viaje hay que amortizarlo viendo todo lo que se pueda con la dificultad muchas veces que no llegas a profundizar realmente en nada. Y con estas que encuentras la tienda de productos de turista : la tacita, el imán, el punto de libro, el boli, la gorra, la camiseta, la bola de nieve con el monumento, siempre es lo mismo. Así que cuando acabas de visitar el lugar para mí es obligado pasarse por esa tienda siempre lo mismo, y entre todo esos productos de dudoso uso: libros. Libros de historia, biografías , libros de gran formato con fotografías (quién compra libros de gran formato en un punto turístico? Solo pensar en llevarlo todo el día te pasan las ganas. No deben vender ni uno, de hecho no he visto nunca comprar nadie uno.

En este caso la visita fue al cementerio de Arlington en Washington. Tengo una morbosidad tremenda por los cementerios. Sobretodo los militares me parece de tal gilipollez como se justifican las naciones para brindar un homenaje a esas personas que mueren por intangibles de valor casi nulo. Que menos; les quema la vergüenza a las naciones esos muertos y no hay mayor bastidor que una guardia de un soldado desconocido con todo un folclore y miles de lápidas y sin olvidar las medallas. Un trozo de latón por nuestra vida. Gran negocio.
En fin...

Así que estando en Arlington (a tocar de Washignton), cementerio de miles de lápidas de veteranos y muertos en guerra y orgullo patrio Americano pero eso si... sin faltar la tienda, es America si no hay tienda con tonterías seria una ofensa peor a esta gran Nación y me encuentro con esta delicadeza, un libro sencillo (eufemismos para decir que es para niños) para los que sabemos suficiente Inglés para leerlo sin apenas un par de consultar al diccionario y una aproximación a la sucesos históricos de la más famosa batalla de la guerra civil America. Y porque la más famosa ? Porque allí enviaron a decenas de miles de personas a encontrase con su Dios que seguro que felicito a ambos por su bravura y la guerra duro 2 años más. Así que tampoco parece que fuera tan decisiva pero así lo venden.

Libro conciso y resumido, extremadamente fácil de leer que nos permite ver como fue la Batalla, no desarrolla el contexto de la guerra, en pocas frases resume el origen del conflicto y se centra en esos 3 días de Julio de 1863 con los hechos planos y sin novelización alguna, añade algunas fotos y algunas capítulos breves con algunos apuntes curiosos sobre personajes de la campaña incluyendo el tío del abuelo del escritor del libro, el cual murió en la batalla.

Poco más de 100 páginas de lectura sencilla para conocer algo más de lo que fue una guerra cruel como todas las civiles.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What was the Battle of Gettysburg?” By Jim O’Connor is an informational/ non fiction book about the 1863 battle of Gettysburg. The Battle of Gettysburg is about a war between the Southern states and the Northern states to decide if slavery is right or wrong. The Southern states thought that slavery should continue and that they should have their own country. They were also seen as confederates. The Northern states thought that slavery should be canceled, and that every slave shall be free. Northern states were also seen as the unions. I thought this book was alright because like I’ve said in my other reviews, I LOVE history and non fictional books, especially the incidents, tragic, or war events. And like I said before, I find them more interested in that genre than others. I also like this book because I, myself, don’t think that slavery is right and to read a book or passage that slavery is now over makes me happy. I do recommend this book to kids who are doing an essay about the Battle of Gettysburg or the history behind Gettysburg because this book, like all the other similar “What was,” and “Who was,” books, is giving you information about the war and the people behind it. If you don’t really like war or history, then I suggest to don’t even bother picking up this book… unless you have an assignment to do or like a project. But if you want to read it, go ahead. No one is really stopping you. Other than that, I do suggest it to almost everyone because it is indeed interesting and I did learn a lot more things about this specific event.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Was the Battle of Gettysburg? by Jim O'Connor Provides a detailed look at the three-day battle that was the turning point in the Civil War as well as the bloodiest fighting. It ended a string of Confederate victories with a decisive Union victory. The defeated army of General Robert E. Lee retreated to the south and there were no further attempts to bring the fighting into the north. As a book written for a youth audience, it still packs enough detail to give a thorough understanding of the events of those three critical days when victory was in doubt. There are a number of illustrations as well as photographs included that also help with the understanding of this important battle. Afterwords President Lincoln journeyed to Gettysburg to commemorate the loss of life on both sides and gave one of the most memorable, as well as shortest, speeches ever spoken: The Gettysburg Address! Excellent read for younger readers but equally informative for the young at heart.

[Jeovany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all about the battle of Gettysburg of how they fight the war and how they tried to survive the battle. I learned they tired to battle to end slavery there was a loots of president of owned slaves because they want to plant cotton and Mack them money so they can have more and more slavery. And the other country wanted to keep slavery going so they battled that out.


I liked this book because I did not know that there was a loot of people that wanted to end slavery and there was a loots of president that wanted slavery.this book is assume because it can help you learn more about the war of Gettysburg and how slavery ended.

This book is really good for people that love the war and want to see how the war of Gettysburg ended and how the war starred

[Megan Ball · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this for my 3rd graders, so it’s a great introduction for them! I know more about this battle though, and I had some problems with it.
One of the biggest was that it glossed over the Battle of Little Round Top. Like, the author mentioned that one of his distant ancestors had participated in some fighting on the hill and died, but that was it. Nothing about the bayonet charge even, which was a pretty important part of the fighting that day since it saved the Union flank from caving in.
Other than that, though, this is a great book to read if you just want the basics of the battle. It does a very good job of simplifying all the armies’ movements so they make sense to the reader. It also talks about the implications of the battle and how it affected both sides later on.

[Ricky Trinkl]

"What was the Battle of Gettysburg?" by Jim O'Connor is a well detailed story about the Battle of Gettysburg and what was so important about it.
The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point in the Cival War. Whoever lost that fight, lost it all. We all know that the Union won or America would be divided in two. First, it didn't really mean to happen at all! The Confederates wanted to move into Philidelphia to take it over but Union forces accidently crossed their path. The Union was overmatched by thousands. They called reinforcements but they didn't come soon. The Union held off the rebels due to their inventory of weapons: the Sharps Carbine. Reinforcements eventually came along with General Meade. They forced the rebels back winning the fight. President Lincoln wasn't happy when he heard that Meade didn't follow the rebels and finishing them off.

I would recommend this book because it's very in depth in the fight and tells every little detail about it that you can barely remember every thing.

[Amity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book with Kaye. We both learned a lot. That said, can we please stop writing a revisionist history of the Civil War?! The war was not about states rights and the more people try to say it was the more it glosses over a horrific part of US history, the fact that many many many white people didn't see African slaves as human, a fact which has enduring effects that are still seen, felt, and lived today. Acknowledging that about our past does not mean white people today are guilty for the institution of slavery, but it does mean we are responsible for working to remove its palimpsest in all of their forms.

[Emily Grindstaff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very informational about the Battle of Gettysburg. It had several images that were very informational and added to the telling of the story by allowing the reader to understand the locations that occurred. It also includes images and actual photographs and short biographies of generals and other important political figures of the time. I would recommend this book for a third to fourth grade student who is looking into reading longer chapter books and is into history. This gives an age appropriate description of the events of the Battle of Gettysburg while getting to the point, but not being too gory and making it inappropriate for younger readers.

[Victoria B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really fascinating read for kids age 8 and up. Lots of information, and a personal connection between the author and a Union soldier mentioned through a letter and a picture. There are parts of the story that bog down a little, but for me, that's cyclical nature of war.

Of note: there are real pictures of dead soldiers included, which may disturb younger readers.

Also, I wish that some of the sidebars had not interrupted a chapter (same for the packet of pictures...that would've been better to show at the end of a chapter instead of the middle of a sentence).

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have very mixed reviews about this book. This book gives great details about the battle of Gettysburg. It discuss the strategies of both sides, and the key members. Everything is age appropriate for children. In the back of the book are pictures from the battles. They have these cartoon images in the series throughout the books that help explain everything. Thus is where we hit my downfall with this book. The person who did the editing did this book a horrible disservice. You couldn’t read the text that was written through the images. I hope this is the only book like way.

[Kate Schwarz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great "Who Was" book read with Kiefer (and, sometimes, Ben)...though officially this was a "What Was" book. As Ben pointed out, these books supply only an introduction to important people or events. But that's a great service right there. This book especially was interrupted by questions from both boys about the war, the Army, which leader was better, and "When can we go visit?"

On to the "Who Was" books about the top generals of this war...

[Angela Mendola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it was a great non fiction piece that depicted all the events in the battle of Gettysburg using text, photographs, maps, and a few primary sources such as letters and the Gettysburg address. This book was written by the great, great nephew of one of the soldiers. It may be more appropriate for middle school readers but upper level elementary school kids may be able to follow it too. For young Civil War scholars, this is an excellent resource!

[Ms. McKelvie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this whole series, as well as the Who Is, Where Is series. Students enjoy them and they teach history/social studies/geography well. As an adult, I also enjoy them. Quick, easy reads, but informative. Great for class libraries.
If you had enough books for a whole class maybe each student reads about a different person or place and then share what they learned.
Grades: 3+ (Possibly 2nd for a read aloud)

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author of this book does a phenomenal job explaining such a complex battle of the Civil War in a way that my second graders were able to understand it. Granted, I drew a lot of pictures and diagrams on the board as we read this book, but I was very proud that they grasped the concepts and strategies that the different generals used.

[A Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent overview of the Battle of Gettysburg for a beginner. Goes into what happened on each day, discusses the important people and some classic stories and quotes, and includes good drawings and photos of the events and people. With so many overdrawn books on this battle, it was a relief to find this book to begin learning about Gettysburg.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great starter books for upper elementary kids. I read this with my 9 year old. I even learned things I didn't know such as that General Lee actually didn't agree with the Confederates' views. He only decided to join the south because he loved his home state of Virginia.

The photos at the end of the book were interesting as well.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Four score and seven years ago..." begins Abraham Lincoln's beautiful speech commemorating the three-day battle that turned the tide of the Civil War. The South had been winning up to this point. So how did Union troops stop General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North? .

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting topics and I learned a lot of new things from it.

Great book and I enjoyed learned about the Union and Confederate sides. I think it was interesting and entertaining and I recommend it to people who love history.

[Arthur Rehner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was good. I enjoyed the book but it wasn't really fulfilling. Overall it was a very detailed book with a lot of information. I don't really recommended this book but if you do a 2nd grade Gettysburg field then you should read this.

[Grey Glaser · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does a great job of explaining the causes and the outcomes of the battle of Gettysburg, and it’s not to hard to read. If you don’t have much time to read but you want to read about this topic, this would be a great choice.