Into the Long Dark Night

The Journals of Corrie Belle Hollister #6

by Michael R. Phillips

Book 6 in The Journals of Corrie Belle Hollister. Corrie becomes deeply involved in the Northern cause in the Civil War.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Historical, Adventure, Civil War

297 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1992

About the author

Librarian Note: there is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.

Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.

Reviews

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I first read this book several years ago as part of the series. I remember loving the series so much, and worked on collecting them. Now I'm reading through them again and I don't think I'm enjoying them as much as I did the first time. Especially this book.

My main disagreement with this one is Corrie's small view of the Civil War. Statements were made like, "If Lincoln could be defeated, slavery and the Confederacy could both be preserved. Such was Robert E. Lee's hope. Such was the hope of all loyal southerners, every one of whom hated Abraham Lincoln passionately. Every white man and woman, that is. To the slaves, he was a liberator." Really? First off, I don't really believe Lee wanted to preserve the Confederacy. Lee loved the US and wanted it to remain intact but because he was from Virginia, he fought for the Confederacy, for his home state. Second, I don't think that every loyal southerner hated Lincoln passionately. They may not have liked him but I doubt they all hated him passionately. And as for the slaves, there were quite a few who, after they were freed, chose to stay with their masters because they were dedicated to them. Not every southern master was cruel.
I'm not condoning slavery. I think it's evil. But I also gathered from this book that Corrie thought the whole war was being fought to free the slaves. I believe it was for state's rights.

So, I'm sorry. But I think research might have been done a little better for this book.

On the bright side, Corrie stays in PA for a little while, and she stays close to where I grew up! So that was pretty cool.

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue, North River patron, July 2016, 5 stars:

Book # 6 of The Journals of Corrie Belle Hollister. She not only becomes a woman newspaper writer but also has a book published. She is invited as a guest of President Lincoln to visit the White House and has quite an adventure before and after she gets there. What a brave young lady to work and go after what she believes in, even gets into the battle at Gettysburg. Michael Phillips gives you an exciting Christian read.

[Autumn Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love these books so much 😍

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book continues the saga of Corrie's life. Now she has traveled east and is involved with Lincoln's re-election campaign and the Union cause during the Civil War. Another great history book for upper elementary and older readers, while still being a quick, easy, and yet enjoyable read for adults. I've learned a lot about the causes and events of the Civil War from these books, especially what was going on in the West during this time. The writing style is simple, not fancy, nothing to make these books ultra memorable or spectacular, and yet they have many good lessons about living your life the way God wants us to live it.

[Chris Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love history, especially American history, and Mr. Phillips has done his research to make this story gain the momentum I felt it needed. But perhaps that’s because I like history so much. In any case, he chose to put Corrie in the midst of some significant events in our nation’s history thereby informing his readers of those details we so easily forget in our education and in a way that is easier to remember. I look forward to finishing the series but am hoping that Corrie will quit shedding so many tears!

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This showed me a lot of close up and personal insights in the actual battles of the Civil War. It also showed the anguish President Lincoln may have gone through trying to work with his generals in ending the war. This was an excellent book in bringing the Civil War out of the history books and brought to life in a real way.

[Rebecca Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Corrie Hollister as she travels back east to help with the American Civil War and Abraham Lincoln's 2nd presidential campaign. This book helps one to really think about what took place during the American Civil War and how much it affected the course of the nation.

[Partridge Public]

Phillips, Michael PB

[Cws]

YA Phi

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still dealing w/ war of which doesn't hold much interest for me; but others might enjoy. I could easily skip this one as well or at best make a trip to the Library for it.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the continuation of The Journals of Corrie Belle Hollister by Michael Phillips. In this story Corrie leaves home after receiving an invitation to visit President Lincoln. This comes as a result of Corrie’s work for Union causes as well the President’s reelection.
On her way she gets involved in the Civil War helping the wounded. After visiting the President and continuing to raise funds for the Sanitary Commission, she again joins the work of caring for wounded men. She meets other historical people – quite unusual but interesting.
In the end Corrie gets involved trying to avert a plot to kill General Ulysses S. Grant – another unusual, unlikely story. She ends up becoming seriously injured and left for dead.
As before in this series, the author pushes the envelope a bit too far and the story leaves a believable, realistic story line. It kept my interested to the end but Corrie seems to good to be true.

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the war between the States escalates into full-scale conflict threatening to tear the nation apart, Corrie Belle Hollister finds herself far from her home and thrust into the center of the battle. She was invited by President Lincoln to visit Washington and help with his reelection campaign and writes regular newspaper articles about her experiences on the front helping the wounded. She unwittingly overhears a plot against General Grant that could change the course of the nation and she risks her life to get to him with the warning.
The story was rather unrealistic -- very light reading!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Into the dark night was great a very relocate book for today's cultural movements. I also enjoyed that we got to see Corrie on the east coast this time around Corrie's character has devolved miles from where she started both in stopping to think before she acts but also in her career as a journalist. I'm very excited that to read the next and final book in the series . the only thing I missed was her family . however having real historical characters was very interesting.

[Sunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This YA is one of the first series I read as a homeschool mom. The stories were filled with a sense of adventure, a grounding in faith and so full of historical fact that it made history fun again. Follow this orphaned family across the plains as they travel West in a wild and little charted new America.

[Barb Wittwer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

After reading a book out of sequence, this book still was as good as the rest. Even though I know what happened next I can't wait to fill in the blanks that book 7 will give. Read on.... You won't be sorry.

[Bruce Dinsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual Historical accuracy was on the mark. I learned a lot from this book also and understood more about what Corrie was developing for her own personal walk with God. Extremely well written and engaging, this is about the third time I've read this book since it was published.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous and very well researched to contemporize the heroine. As always, Michael Phillips writes to keep you reading! Couldn't put it down til I finished reading it! A big cliffhanger has me eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better.

[Serenity F. Helzerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yes…must say…but don’t peek. 🤭 she gets shot in the back at the end. 🤭 CLIFFHANGER!

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series. Good book.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

12 hours on tape

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is awesome.