Drummer Boy: Marching to the Civil War

by Ann Turner, Mark Hess (Illustrations)

A thirteen-year old boy lies about his age to join the Union forces during America's bloodiest war. No matter what happens, a drummer boy in the Civil War must keep playing his drum to relay orders and rally spirits. He doesn't fight, but he sees it all: from the glow of the camp fire to the glare of battle, the drummer boy watches the friendships that war creates and then breaks apart. Ann Turner's powerful text and Mark Hess's stunning artwork reveal the drama and heartache of the Civil War as seen through the eyes of a boy not too young to be a hero.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Civil War, Childrens

Library Binding

First published August 14, 1998

About the author

Ann Turner, also known and published as Ann Warren Turner, is a children's author and a poet.
Ann Turner wrote her first story when she was eight years old. It was about a dragon and a dwarf named Puckity. She still uses that story when she talks to students about writing, to show them that they too have stories worth telling.
Turner has always loved to write, but at first she was afraid she couldn't make a living doing it. So she trained to be a teacher instead. After a year of teaching, however, she decided she would rather write books than talk about them in school.
Turner's first children's book was about vultures and was illustrated by her mother. She has written more than 40 books since then, most of them historical picture books. She likes to think of a character in a specific time and place in American history and then tell a story about that character so that readers today can know what it was like to live long ago.
Ann Turner says that stories choose her, rather than the other way around: "I often feel as if I am walking along quietly, minding my own business, when a story creeps up behind me and taps me on the shoulder. 'Tell me, show me, write me!' it whispers in my ear. And if I don't tell that story, it wakes me up in the morning, shakes me out of my favorite afternoon nap, and insists upon being told."

(from: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/tnc/mtai...)

Reviews

[Emily Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly alludes to the idea that the war was merely about slavery, but, overall, a good and accurate representation of hardships soldiers endured. A bit haunting...Not for young children.

[Brooke Sherrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good way to introduce Civil War unit

[Angelica Cowart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read would be good for introducing what drummer boys are and what they did during the civil war.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and sober account of a boy that runs off to join the Union Army during the Civil War.

I was surprised by the ending: "And when the war's over and I go home, I'll stop to talk to Mr. Lincoln and tell him how it's his fault, how his great, sad eyes made me go and see things no boy should ever see."

Ages: 6- 10

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[Hardy]

How is it like to go to war?Did you that boys go to war to! They even have to be in the battle. Well some cous the others are some thimg called drummerboys.They make beats and the soulders know what that beat means something exampale one of the beats could mean "Get down know" the soulders have to do it.durring that time it was the Cival war when Aberham Lincoln was prident.It was very sad cous some of the soulders Boys would get shot in the arm that way they would"t play the beat.

[Sydney Dungey]

Another wonderful book to use with a social studies lesson on war, and the different positions people and children played in the original military. This story shows how children were used and went into war completely unarmed and simply to play the drums as the military marched.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully moving and very well done story that doesn't gloss over the pain and fear of war to get to the courage and glory. Definitely not for little ones, this book would be a wonderful addition to a study of the Civil War for older children.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about a 13 yr old boy who joins the army and becomes a drummer boy. It tells about his experience during the war and how important drummer boys were to the army at the time. It would be good in the classroom to show children a different a view of the army/war.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Haunting book of the sadness involved in war.

[Elijolil · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Kyoungbin Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. No awards
2. 4-8 years
3. A 13 years-old boy who thinks he's useless in his house, decides to apply for army during the Civil War after he happens to meet Mr.Lincoln. He becomes a drummer boy and he goes through awful things; he sees his friends die, people suffer, and that he starts to forget the face of the people. He realizes that war is a terrible thing.
4. I think this book would be a good option when teaching about Civil War. It also explains pretty well what drummer boys do during that time.
5. Read-aloud, writing workshop