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Hear the Wind Blow
“A first-rate story.” —Kirkus Reviews
On a cold, snowy night, thirteen-year-old Haswell Magruder makes a fateful decision. A wounded Confederate soldier appears at the family’s Virginia farm, and Haswell convinces his mother to take the man in, despite the dire repercussions if the enemy Yankees were to catch them in such an act. Unfortunately, this sets off a horrific chain of events that leaves their house burned to the ground and their farm in ruins. With no home left, Haswell sets out in search of his older brother, a Confederate soldier. His quest is also a passage into manhood, as he experiences the last bloody days of the Civil War.
On a cold, snowy night, thirteen-year-old Haswell Magruder makes a fateful decision. A wounded Confederate soldier appears at the family’s Virginia farm, and Haswell convinces his mother to take the man in, despite the dire repercussions if the enemy Yankees were to catch them in such an act. Unfortunately, this sets off a horrific chain of events that leaves their house burned to the ground and their farm in ruins. With no home left, Haswell sets out in search of his older brother, a Confederate soldier. His quest is also a passage into manhood, as he experiences the last bloody days of the Civil War.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2003
39 people are currently reading
469 people want to read
About the author
Mary Downing Hahn
71 books4,390 followersI grew up in a small shingled house down at the end of Guilford Road in College Park, Maryland. Our block was loaded with kids my age. We spent hours outdoors playing "Kick the Can" and "Mother, May I" as well as cowboy and outlaw games that usually ended in quarrels about who shot whom. In the summer, we went on day long expeditions into forbidden territory -- the woods on the other side of the train tracks, the creek that wound its way through College Park, and the experimental farm run by the University of Maryland.
In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.
Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.
When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.
In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.
By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.
Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.
In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.
Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.
When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.
In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.
By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.
Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
October 6, 2020
This is such a sad story.
March 24, 2021
Hear the Wind Blow is an incredible tale about the journey from boyhood to manhood. Taking place in Virginia during the Civil War in 1865, the book follows thirteen-year-old protagonist, Haswell, after the war leaves him and his sister, Rachel, orphaned and homeless. With the Civil War nearing its violent, depraved, end - Haswell must find a way to navigate the country-wide battlefield to find his at-war brother whilst keeping himself and Rachel safe.
Most Civil War stories love to reenact grand battles between the famous Ulysses S. Grant and infamous Robert E. Lee, telling the story of this war in all of its courageous glory. But Hear the Wind Blow couldn’t be more disinterested with such dramatics. Hahn shows the Civil War exactly how it was: unnecessary, disgusting, and destructive. It’s a refreshing story, with an important perspective on the Civil War.
Haswell is as Southern as they come, and it’s a perspective not often told in Civil War stories. Hahn strives to get readers to understand the mindset of those fighting for the South (slavery excluded), without idealizing or glorifying their actions. Haswell comes from a family that hates slavery… and ‘Yankees’ - and this sentiment is echoed by a lot of those in the Confederate Army. Hahn succeeds at making her audience understand the reasoning behind a lot of the fire in Southern citizens, while still condemning the horrors that were committed in those states.
But Hear the Wind Blow is still very much a timeless tale, with strong focus on the journey from a boy to a man. Obviously, the age expectations between those in the 1860s are much different than in 2021, and most aren’t put through the same life-or-death situations at Haswell is - but we can all relate to his feelings of self-doubt, insecurity, and trying to prove oneself. With his father dead and brother at war - Haswell is forced to act as the man far too many times for a boy his age. It’s a theme that is at the heart of Haswell’s story and arc, and is possibly the most important message Hahn relays in the entire book.
Hear the Wind Blow speaks on the most crucial parts of the Civil War, a part most authors have often done their best to avoid. Hahn bravely paints the war as immoral, and her story about the ugly impacts of this war will remain relevant for years to come.
Most Civil War stories love to reenact grand battles between the famous Ulysses S. Grant and infamous Robert E. Lee, telling the story of this war in all of its courageous glory. But Hear the Wind Blow couldn’t be more disinterested with such dramatics. Hahn shows the Civil War exactly how it was: unnecessary, disgusting, and destructive. It’s a refreshing story, with an important perspective on the Civil War.
Haswell is as Southern as they come, and it’s a perspective not often told in Civil War stories. Hahn strives to get readers to understand the mindset of those fighting for the South (slavery excluded), without idealizing or glorifying their actions. Haswell comes from a family that hates slavery… and ‘Yankees’ - and this sentiment is echoed by a lot of those in the Confederate Army. Hahn succeeds at making her audience understand the reasoning behind a lot of the fire in Southern citizens, while still condemning the horrors that were committed in those states.
But Hear the Wind Blow is still very much a timeless tale, with strong focus on the journey from a boy to a man. Obviously, the age expectations between those in the 1860s are much different than in 2021, and most aren’t put through the same life-or-death situations at Haswell is - but we can all relate to his feelings of self-doubt, insecurity, and trying to prove oneself. With his father dead and brother at war - Haswell is forced to act as the man far too many times for a boy his age. It’s a theme that is at the heart of Haswell’s story and arc, and is possibly the most important message Hahn relays in the entire book.
Hear the Wind Blow speaks on the most crucial parts of the Civil War, a part most authors have often done their best to avoid. Hahn bravely paints the war as immoral, and her story about the ugly impacts of this war will remain relevant for years to come.
September 11, 2023
My grandson finished this and really wanted me to read it. Great story and the writing was excellent.
August 29, 2014
The main theme of this book is how life was during the civil war. The main characters name is Haswell and he lives in Virginia. He has a sister named Rachael and a brother named Avery. His father died in the war and his brother was fighting in the war. During the war his mom dies and he goes on a journey to find his brother.
I really liked this book and it was one of my favorites. My favorite part was when he found his brother Avery and he was still alive. Some parts of the book were really sad but I still liked the book. The saddest part was when Haswell found out his mother had died. I felt so bad for him.
I would recommend this book to people who like learning about wars. I think many people would find this book interesting like I did. Altough it's a very sad book, I really liked it and I would think many other people would. I'm planning on reading another book by this author since I liked this one. One person that I think would like this book would be my brother. He likes books that have the same topic as this one but he hasn't read this one.
I really liked this book and it was one of my favorites. My favorite part was when he found his brother Avery and he was still alive. Some parts of the book were really sad but I still liked the book. The saddest part was when Haswell found out his mother had died. I felt so bad for him.
I would recommend this book to people who like learning about wars. I think many people would find this book interesting like I did. Altough it's a very sad book, I really liked it and I would think many other people would. I'm planning on reading another book by this author since I liked this one. One person that I think would like this book would be my brother. He likes books that have the same topic as this one but he hasn't read this one.
August 6, 2018
I had to read this book for school and I really enjoyed it. You see when I was a kid I loved reading Mary Downing Hahn books especially the ghost ones like Wait till Helen Comes, The old Willis Place, Witch Catcher and many others. So when my teacher gave us a list of books is to pick one to read for a grade, I saw Mary Downing Hahn's name and knew that I wanted to read that book. Reading this books brought back memories of me reading staying up way past my bedtime to read her books. It almost makes me want to go back a re read them right now. This book did not disappoint me at all. I started it earlier this afternoon and finished it tonight. I really wish there was a sequel because I would definitely read it. I really felt connected to the characters and I have to admit I cried a few time. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an easy, fast read and to anyone who is info history.
November 4, 2017
Heartbreaking book about the bloody end of the Civil War. This wasn’t a typical Mary Downing Hahn book, but it did have the same amount of suspense and I was on the edge of my seat many times while reading. I would recommend this for mature 5th graders and up. There were some events that were a little mature.
May 11, 2025
I read this sometime in september 2023 lol 😂
July 7, 2017
I remember reading this back in sixth grade, but couldn’t remember most of it since it was I guess kind of mature for (and the protagonist was a year older than me). I’d liked it then, and I like it now. This book centers around a thirteen-year old boy named Haswell during the Civil War, and what’s interesting to me is that he is from the side of the Confederacy. People like to demonize that side, but there were actually a lot of innocent people on that side who had nothing to do with slavery at all, they just happened to live in the South. Haswell’s family was extremely poor. I think I understand now when people say they have “Southern pride”, because their family goes back several generations.
I thought the reference to ancient Greek and Roman fighting and the stories that Haswell and his older brother grew up with was interesting too. The way war and fighting and victory were all glorified, but then those that actually experience it see that it’s not all glory and wonder. The kids in this novel seemed much more grown up in here than your average teen or child. Haswell’s younger sister Rachel is only seven and she seems more grown up than a lot of grown-ups out there.
There’s some deep philosophical questions in here that the protagonist ponders, such as, “Which side is God on? He can’t be on both.” Or that might’ve been the boy and girl he’d encountered who asked that, and we never find out what happened to them. I also liked how Haswell described how something can hit you with shock even if you were already expecting it, like when he found out that the South had surrendered. He’d known it was coming but it still made him feel sick inside anyway to really hear it. I think that can be related to a lot of different tragic scenarios people go through in life. The realness and graphicness of war is depicted very realistically, even in a children’s book, with the death and destruction and the bodies of soldiers at the medical camps. Probably the scene that stood out to me the most was when Haswell saw a pile of severed bloody limbs outside a tent...
Wasn’t a huge fan of the grandma and uncle at all, and how they treat people who aren’t “manly” and instead like poetry and the arts, but I don’t think we were meant to like them. I thought the mother was very brave, and I was so happy Haswell got to reunite with Avery again. Avery seems like a decent man. I also really liked Ranger, the horse. The soldier at the beginning (James?) I felt very bad for, and the one good soldier out of that group who'd felt sick about what he was ordered to do (Hicks, I think), was admirable too. He really moved the plot forward with freeing Haswell, otherwise who knows what would've happened. The end with the three of them (Haswell, Avery, and Rachel) curled up together in the remains of their old home with the fire going was a good way to end it. It was a dark story, but there is hope. The twist was good too, I'd actually completely forgotten about that letter to the soldier's father at the beginning, that's how much had happened since then. I felt like I'd gone through the exhaustion of all the events with Haswell. Really no way to write a story about a war without having the harsh realities in it.
Something a bit irrelevant but worth noting: I could've sworn I remembered something from this book that obviously didn't happen, so now I'm wondering which book it came from--but I thought I'd read in a children's war book once about a wounded soldier who needed more blood to put transferred into him in order to survive...I REALLY thought it was this book and I'd been waiting for it. But obviously never happened. Hmmm.
Like a lot of her books (the Gordy trilogy, Closed for the Season, and I THINK Dead Man in Indian Creek), this took place in Virginia, my state :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2023
The book Hear the Wind Blow by Mary Downing Hahn is a great book with many reasons that someone should want to read it. I, personally, enjoyed reading this book because I thought it was a very well written plot that was paced very well. This is an important factor to me because it makes it easier to understand the story and easier to read overall, for the reader. If the story is not paced well, it will either be too fast, making it hard to understand, or too slow, making it too boring to read. The characters are well developed throughout the story, making it a great adventure but also a realistic and relatable story.
Another major reason to enjoy this book is the plot. The plot is a great way to tell that this book is very good and very well written. It is a plot that makes you feel many emotions throughout the book, such as happiness, sadness, and even anger but the best part is that it could be very relatable towards a young reader. This story is relatable because it opens on an already struggling family finding a wounded soldier from the civil war.
Spoilers Ahead
This family is struggling because of the loss of their father in the past and the more recent loss of their brother going off to fight in the war. The family then finds a wounded soldier in their farm. When finding this soldier they are conflicted with their morals because they know that they should take him in but he is on the opposing side of the war. The main character Haswell, finally convinces his mom to take the man in because he thought about how he hoped another family would take in his older brother, Avery if he was found wounded. The mother then agrees with Haswell, eventually taking him in and tending to his wounds. The mother thought no more of it and decided that after he healed she would send him back off into the war. Haswell and his younger sister Rachel grow a bond with this man and beg their mom to let him stay longer until he is fully well. This then brings many problems with it considering that it is considered harboring a fugitive of war to the opposing side and they themselves become enemies with some people on the side that they are aligned with. This adds a very creative dynamic to the story.
I highly recommend this book, especially for readers that enjoy historical fiction books about war.
March 25, 2022
For those who want a dive into some of the psychological horrors of war (and some of the physical), this will be a very interesting read. It's an engaging story about Haswell, a boy who experiences tremendous loss and embarks on a journey that no 13-year old should ever have to take (but so many around the world do take similar journeys due to war and other humanitarian disasters).
Some concerns: The "d" word is used multiple times in various contexts, including by children. Some of the descriptions of injuries from the war are rather graphic. As I've said in other reviews, I don't understand why so many YA novels feel the need to include romance among youth when it isn't necessary to add to the story (there was a touch of that in this book). Slavery is only mentioned once or twice (in a Civil War novel!) and there are no Black characters, so this is only looking at one narrow piece of the war and its effects.
Though it is told from the perspective of a southern family who absolutely loathes Yankees, I didn't see this as propaganda supporting the southern stance on slavery or any other issue. At the same time, it does allude to the view that the Civil War was fought over states' rights and not slavery and this could be concerning to some readers.
However for our family, we talk enough about the Civil War in other contexts and through other books that this will be complemented by other perspectives. Plus, I intend this to only be a read-aloud for our family as we get into the high school years because of the heavy content and the need to discuss a few things along the way. We'll put it on the "read later" shelf.
Some concerns: The "d" word is used multiple times in various contexts, including by children. Some of the descriptions of injuries from the war are rather graphic. As I've said in other reviews, I don't understand why so many YA novels feel the need to include romance among youth when it isn't necessary to add to the story (there was a touch of that in this book). Slavery is only mentioned once or twice (in a Civil War novel!) and there are no Black characters, so this is only looking at one narrow piece of the war and its effects.
Though it is told from the perspective of a southern family who absolutely loathes Yankees, I didn't see this as propaganda supporting the southern stance on slavery or any other issue. At the same time, it does allude to the view that the Civil War was fought over states' rights and not slavery and this could be concerning to some readers.
However for our family, we talk enough about the Civil War in other contexts and through other books that this will be complemented by other perspectives. Plus, I intend this to only be a read-aloud for our family as we get into the high school years because of the heavy content and the need to discuss a few things along the way. We'll put it on the "read later" shelf.
February 18, 2017
Why does GR keep automatically saying I've read every book I finish twice? That's annoying. Anyway, I picked up Hear the Wind Blow because I'm doing Book Riot's Read Harder challenge this year, and I needed a war novel. I don't like reading war novels and I thought reading a middle-grade-oriented story might be a little easier on my delicate flower sensibilities. But now I'm torn! Because it is a war novel but it also takes place within 100 miles of my current location, which is another category. Whatever, let's move on to the actual review.
Hear the Wind Blow tells the story of a young teen, Haswell, who's dealt a bad hand during the Civil War; after one particularly devastating blow, he starts the long ride from Winchester to Appomattox to find his older brother, a Confederate soldier. I think Hahn gets the awfulness of the Civil War across very well without making it too gory. There's no sugar-coating -- terrible things happen, there are men on both sides whose worst natures are stirred to life by war, soldiers are wounded or die and are left where they fell -- but Haswell never gives up and hope tempers the despair.
Hahn's writing is solid and her story, despite its war setting, is appropriate for middle graders; it's historical fiction that seems pretty accurate, based on my non-expert level of Civil War knowledge. It wasn't the best book I've read this year but I don't regret the time I spent reading it, either.
Hear the Wind Blow tells the story of a young teen, Haswell, who's dealt a bad hand during the Civil War; after one particularly devastating blow, he starts the long ride from Winchester to Appomattox to find his older brother, a Confederate soldier. I think Hahn gets the awfulness of the Civil War across very well without making it too gory. There's no sugar-coating -- terrible things happen, there are men on both sides whose worst natures are stirred to life by war, soldiers are wounded or die and are left where they fell -- but Haswell never gives up and hope tempers the despair.
Hahn's writing is solid and her story, despite its war setting, is appropriate for middle graders; it's historical fiction that seems pretty accurate, based on my non-expert level of Civil War knowledge. It wasn't the best book I've read this year but I don't regret the time I spent reading it, either.
February 5, 2023
Review: 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beautifully written. Haunting. Sad vibes.
Haswell Magruder is a young boy living on a farm with his mother and little sister. Their father had died in the war. And his older brother Avery, was also fighting in the war on the side of the Confederates. Taking place in the Civil War era this book really showed how difficult life really was back then. The people who lived in those time were born of a different breed - tough and hard working.
You really get a sense of what people had to go through living in those times of a war torn country. Where people lost their livelihoods, humanity, minds, and even their lives. I am not sure who had it worse. Those who died or those who were left behind.
Haswell had to grow up very fast and had to go through some very difficult times. When I read his story, though, even though it was very sad, it gave me a sense of peace....and hope.
Hahn writes so beautifully. I was engrossed all throughout the book and really felt like I was there with Haswell going with him through his adventures, mishaps, fears, and tragedies. I laughed with him and cried with him too. His story teaches us that life is tough....but you know what? We are too.
I would consider this book a classic that should be read by children, young adults, and even adults like me everywhere. A great treasure of a book you don't want to miss!
Beautifully written. Haunting. Sad vibes.
Haswell Magruder is a young boy living on a farm with his mother and little sister. Their father had died in the war. And his older brother Avery, was also fighting in the war on the side of the Confederates. Taking place in the Civil War era this book really showed how difficult life really was back then. The people who lived in those time were born of a different breed - tough and hard working.
You really get a sense of what people had to go through living in those times of a war torn country. Where people lost their livelihoods, humanity, minds, and even their lives. I am not sure who had it worse. Those who died or those who were left behind.
Haswell had to grow up very fast and had to go through some very difficult times. When I read his story, though, even though it was very sad, it gave me a sense of peace....and hope.
Hahn writes so beautifully. I was engrossed all throughout the book and really felt like I was there with Haswell going with him through his adventures, mishaps, fears, and tragedies. I laughed with him and cried with him too. His story teaches us that life is tough....but you know what? We are too.
I would consider this book a classic that should be read by children, young adults, and even adults like me everywhere. A great treasure of a book you don't want to miss!
May 11, 2018
"Hear the Wind Blow" was the first book I read based on the Civil War and I liked it a lot.My favorite character is Haswell Margruder. He is selfless and I like that. But I despise Rachel Margurder because she is a know it all 7 year old and she is outspoken.This book basically tells us how the citizens gave up what they believed to stay alive, how the common folks were affected by the war. This book is pretty good!I recommend it to people who like stuff about the Civil War. I would recommend it to boys and girls because they are both important to the plot.I would like to meet James Marshall because he was a soldier in the Civil War.One of the main conflicts is the confederates because Haswell was against the confederates in the war.He tries to avoid it by taking a different route.I learned that the Civil War was a horrible situation to be in.If the author would illustrate the book what would he draw?
August 31, 2018
This is one of the most engrossing YA books that I have read. It includes a good story, some excellent character development, realistic dialogue, adventure, danger, and a history lesson. The main exception to these generalities was the mother who was portrayed as stupid and crazy but showed symptoms more akin to organic brain damage. The parts with the stupid/crazy/brain-damaged/obnoxious mother were really weak, poorly done, and in need of polishing, but lucky for us that character was killed off early, and the rest of the book was so much better after she was gone. The strength of this book--its realism--might also be seen as a weakness. The writing was simplistic, like that of books for the younger end of the YA spectrum who have not yet reached their full reading level, yet the subject matter--killing, attempted rape, and other assorted horrors of war--would be more appropriate for the upper end of the spectrum, so I am not sure what age level the author was trying to reach. I'd like to rate this book 5* because I liked the story so much, yet it had some grating flaws that really detracted from the good qualities of the book.
January 3, 2021
This is a sad book to review because it had the potential to be great. Young reader historical fiction - did an excellent job pulling you into the story and feeling the horror, tragedy of war. War literally in your front yard, invading your home. True starvation. Kindness of strangers. Wonderful amd sobering story from 13 yr boys perspective. However, 10 curse words at least. Primarily damn or variations of it. Intense scene of enemy officer raping the mother. Implied but not lightly so. She seemed to have shot him in the eye in bed before the deed. Happened in various forms/ real to be sure but too descriptive for a children's book.
July 15, 2020
Really good book. Mary Downing Hahn is absolutely perfect. I'm a big fan of the Civil War. I was surprised and delighted to find that she'd written about the Civil War. How perfect is that? I thought that is lagged a bit in some spots, though. But Haswell is written superbly and his thoughts are pretty interesting. Quite easy to read. I finished in one day. Started at about five in the morning more or less, and ended at about 1:15 PM.
February 9, 2022
I think the Civil War must just be a tough time period to write about, because I've had a lot of trouble finding engaging middle grades books about this time period. Mary Downing Hahn is an excellent children's author, and she creates a good story with just enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. Ultimately, I would only recommend this book to students who are already interested in learning about this time period.
March 7, 2023
This book was a wonderful historical interpretation of the implications of the Civil War.
Children, orphaned and hungry, are forced to take charge of themselves. They endured hardships I could not imagine in order to be reunited with family. Even as they try to get things sorted out, Hard Times continue to come.
It was beautifully written and tasteful.
Children, orphaned and hungry, are forced to take charge of themselves. They endured hardships I could not imagine in order to be reunited with family. Even as they try to get things sorted out, Hard Times continue to come.
It was beautifully written and tasteful.
July 14, 2023
Very gory, yet descriptive and accurate in the telling of the Civil War. This was the first book that leaned on the confederate side vs the yankees. Yet the author did a great job being neutral. I can't imagine the horror that was the war and that Haswell was only 13 and traveled acrossed Virgina on horseback. Crazy how times have changed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2018
5th/6th and up: Historical Fiction: Good book about a family in the south toward the end of the Civil War. A book about the side effects of war and the brutality of survival for those left behind.
March 17, 2019
This isn’t a bad story, but I’m nearly finished with it, and for a book about the Civil War it is devoid of POC. The characters are well written and relatable, but the story doesn’t go far enough. Saying the slaves ran off seems wrong. Where did they go? How are they living?
February 22, 2020
Fast paced adventure. Mary downing Hahn achieved a gracious work portraying the neutrality of loss during the civil war. I always say each book I read by Mary Downing Hahn is my favorite. I’m just going to say, as all the others, I was not disappointed and enjoyed this thoroughly.
March 3, 2022
My goal is to finish this book by the beginning of the school year of my sophomore year. Some books that I would like to read are, Hear the Wind Blow, and the Harry Potter series.
What is the strange thing that happened in the book that you have read?
What is the strange thing that happened in the book that you have read?
October 15, 2023
13 year old boy and his 7 year old sister experience up close and personal the horrors of the Civil War first at home and then traveling across Virginia searching for family. They never see a single black person.
April 24, 2024
Well who knew a young adult book could be so good? A totally immersive book on the American civil war that had me gripped from the second chapter onwards. It felt real and extremely historically accurate. Bravo
November 11, 2017
One of the best YA historical fiction books I've read about the Civil War. Emphasizes the struggle to survive for civilians in the Shenandoah Valley in the final months of the war.
December 31, 2018
I am sure this could be a historical fiction book. Very well written and great story.
October 18, 2019
Enjoyable enough if you like historical fiction. Wildly different than her other books.
May 27, 2020
fantastic writing it is a bout a teenage boy that is taking care of his mom and little sister in the civil war and they take care of a wounded soilder.
January 9, 2021
Such a good war story, only one i’ve read but it’s really good.
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