The Smallest Tadpole's War in the Land of Mysterious Waters

by Diane Swearingen

The Smallest Tadpole’s War in the Land of Mysterious Waters is part of the Florida Special Collection at the State Library of Florida, and the Florida History Collection at the University of Florida Smathers Library, Florida State Strozier Library and Gulf Coast State College. In early 1861, Florida was a rural frontier state that had joined the Union just fifteen years before. Its population of 140,000 was by far the smallest of any of the states that formed the Confederacy. Nearly 63,000 of the population were African Americans, most of whom were slaves working in an agricultural-based economy. The majority of the white population was relatively poor and rural. In the 1860's a Northern newspaper referred to Florida as, “the smallest tadpole in the dirty pool of succession.”

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2016

Reviews

[Mv · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very nicely done historical fiction leaning heavier to the historical side. The story starts with the focus of the book - Henry- and we follow him, his family and friends from when he’s 10 until he’s a married man. We are treated to excerpts from a diary written by the main character.
The story flows well around the facts that give insight into the times and trials during the Civil War. There is not any in-depth descriptions of the individual violence or bloody struggles- just an overview. This is a book more about the people and daily lives instead of the major battles.

This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by this author and I would listen to another.

This is the first book I’ve listened to by this narrator (Jim Seybert) and I would listen to another. The character voices were excellent and the narration was well done so that the story came to life as I listened without it being obvious I was being read to.

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

•audiobook•

I’m not a Civil War buff, but I do indulge in snippets of history. We learn war details during various history courses throuhout our education but I really liked this fictional historical acount from the perspective of a resident in of a small county in Florida.

Florida had some battles, but was mostly geographically removed from many major battles. (It escaped my memory Tallahassee was the only uncaptured capitol of the south.)

Historical facts about the war was ingeniously threaded as we learn about life in the mid to late 19th century.

Enlightening and entertaining, it was easy to get swept through time to this difficult and pivotal era.

[Warren Benton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a well-researched story that it feels so much like nonfiction I had to double check to see that it wasn't. This gives you an account of Wakulla county Florida in and around the time of the civil war. Coming from a boy who was first was too young to join the war was stuck doing lots of chores for many families in the town because all the Men had gone off to work. This is an enjoyable read for anyone who loves civil war stories. This has little battle and more about what life was like back home. This also has historical relevance because it talks how lots of the men from Florida didn't even own slaves.

[Robert C. smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Close-Up of Florida from 1850

Swearingen has an easy-to-read writing style that transports readers back in time to when much of Florida was small, rural farm communities. Following one family in particular through several generations, readers experience many of the challenges of those days, from poor crops and horrendous hurricanes, to the costly civil war that left numerous families and businesses damaged or destroyed. With much of the book taking place in the state's panhandle has added depth of appreciation to this reader.

[R B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Diane Swearingen brings to life the lives of nineteenth century Floridians as told through the voices of Thomas Swearingen and his adopted son Henry. It is the story of families, their love for and dependence on one another while eking out a life in a hard scrabble Florida.

One does not have to be a history buff to enjoy this beautifully told story.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful historical literature for middle grades. Full of local Florida history. Well researched.