Everything We Lose: A Civil War Novel of Hope, Courage and Redemption

by Annette Oppenlander

A farm boy’s choice to protect his friend, a slave, from a brutal attack forces both on separate journeys: one escapes into war, the other is sold into slavery. Told from alternating viewpoints, one black and one white, Surviving the Fatherland author Annette Oppenlander delivers another stunning historical tale set against the epic backdrop of the American Civil War—a breathtaking examination of the power of hope and friendship, and the endurance of the human spirit to find a way home.

Tennessee, 1861. Fifteen-year-old farm boy Adam Brown would do anything to protect his friend Tip, a slave at the neighboring plantation—even if it means fighting Nathan Billings, the rich and obnoxious landowner’s son. But when it seems his attack has killed Nathan, Adam has no choice but to run away and join the Union Army under an assumed name. Together with Wes, a chatty soldier with a few secrets of his own, Adam embarks on a traumatic odyssey through the war-torn Midwest. As his soul darkens with the atrocities of war, all he wants is to go home. But in order to do that—if he survives—he must face his past.

Unbeknownst to Adam, sixteen-year old Tip is sold to a farmer who takes drunken pleasure in torturing his slaves. Tip quickly realizes that if he wants to survive he must run. Ahead lie hundreds of miles of unknown country, infested by slave owners, traders, starvation and cold. And so begins a journey of escape and recapture, of brutal attacks and unexpected kindness. When a rescue by the Underground Railroad goes terribly wrong, Tip finds himself caring for a pregnant runaway, his journey seemingly at an end. They have reached the Ohio River, a vast watery expanse impossible to cross. It is only a matter of time before roaming slave traders will pick them up—he will never see his mother and his best friend again.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Civil War

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2018

About the author

Annette Oppenlander is an award-winning writer, literary coach and educator. As a bestselling historical novelist, Oppenlander is known for her authentic characters and stories based on true events, coming alive in well-researched settings. Having lived in Germany the first half of her life and the second half in various parts in the U.S., Oppenlander inspires readers by illuminating story questions as relevant today as they were in the past. Oppenlander’s bestselling true WWII story, Surviving the Fatherland, was elected to IWIC’s Hall of Fame and won the 2017 National Indie Excellence Award. Her historical time-travel trilogy, Escape from the Past, takes readers to the German Middle Ages and the Wild West. Uniquely, Oppenlander weaves actual historical figures and events into her plots, giving readers a flavor of true history while enjoying a good story. Oppenlander shares her knowledge through writing workshops at colleges, libraries and schools. She also offers vivid presentations and author visits. The mother of fraternal twins and a son, she recently returned to her home, Solingen, Germany where she lives with her husband and old mutt, Mocha.

"Nearly every place holds some kind of secret, something that makes history come alive. When we scrutinize people and places closely, history is no longer a date or number, it turns into a story."

Reviews

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this novel out loud with my son as part of his 8th grade history project. Students were charged with finding and reading a historical-fiction novel set during the civil war era. What a delight to share in this journey together! (We took turns reading chapters aloud.) The story was heavy and heart-breaking at times. But true to the caption, there was hope, courage, and redemption. Following a dual plot line, the reader is given interesting insight into the life of a slave and that of a union soldier, whose paths are intertwined. There was a true sense of relief and accomplishment when we finished the novel this evening. And it seemed appropriate when my son finished the final chapter, looked up at me, and smiled and said, “The End”!

[Réal Laplaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything We Lose: A Civil War Novel of Hope, Courage and Redemption, by Annette Oppenlander.
Annette does it again! I had the pleasure of reviewing her novel, Surviving the Fatherland last year, which went on to become a best seller, and now, this new novel is yet another masterpiece of storytelling. Everything We Lose is a brutal rendering about the lives of two boys, Adam and Tip, a friendship forged near the beginning of America's civil war. Adam, the son of a poor white farmer who went off to war to fight against slavery, and Tip, an Afro-American slave on a nearby rich estate, are caught in the midst of America's hateful racism. In an attempt to defend Tip from brutality at the hands of his "owners", Adam is forced to flee his home and eventually joins the Union to fight against slavery, following in his father's footsteps. Meanwhile, Tip yearns for freedom and sets off on his own harrowing journey to find it. The two stories are extremely moving, gut-wrenching at times, and the lucidity of its descriptions and the scenario of war over the principles of equality and justice are weaved throughout the book in a way that reminds us that such base motives as hatred and racism have no place in a true democracy. Just when you think there is light at the end of the tunnel, when relief is in sight, the author casts you back into the murk, but there is always the one constant which these two friends refuse to let go of - hope! An excellent read with an excellent message.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything We Lose: A Civil War Novel of Hope, Courage and Redemption is a great book! Adam and Tip’s story is heart wrenching and full of heartache, as well as, exhibits the bravery of many of the time. The author did a great job of vividly describing how horrific the times were during this moment of history in our country. This is one of those books a reader would have a hard time putting down. I could not and had it read in a few hours.

I give Everything We Lose a well-deserved 5+ stars. I hope to read more books by Annette Oppenlander in the future.

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ebook was actually 846 pages long, on my Apple iPhone book application. I could not put this book down! I enjoyed every chapter and highly recommended this book if you enjoy stories written that are based on actual historical events.

[T. Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything We Lose is a thrilling story following the life of a slave boy, Tip, and his friend, Adam. Their stories are unique and interesting and cross paths at different intersections.

Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4)

What I loved: Adam had a really fun story. Fun might not be the right word, but I enjoyed reading his chapters and the trials he overcame. There was action and drama a plenty, keeping me turning the page. I've never read historical fiction before this book and really enjoy it.

What I hated: The pacing was hard for me. The first handful of chapters are all focused on just a few days, and then only a few chapters later 2 years time passes. It seemed rushed at some points and then too slow at others. The beginning and the end were the best parts because they focused on specific events over multiple chapters.

Recommendation: I would recommend this for any history fanatics. It's a fun retelling of a story many already know and bring these characters to life to really help you feel the gravity of the Civil War.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fifteen-year-old Adam Brown, a farm boy visits his best friend Tipper “Tip”, a slave on a plantation close to his home one day and while he is there Tip is attacked. Adam thinks his friend is about to die so he rushes the person attacking Tip. Adam believing that he is a murderer now knows that he must leave his homeland or suffer the consequence.

Adams leaves and goes up north changes his name, enlists in the army like his father to help fight to free the slaves. Adam meets another young man, Wes while he is in the army who has a few secrets of his own. Adam and Wes become fast friends, a friendship that will last a lifetime.

After Adam leaves Tip is sold to another slave owner and his beaten more than once. Tip decides that the only choice he has is to run away but running away only gets him recaptured and right back into slavery he goes. Tip thinks if he can only escape and make it up north he can be a free man. He has heard about black men and white men working side by side in factories in the north.

When Annette contacted me about reading Everything We Lose and I read the summary I was hooked well actually I don’t really have to read the summary to know if I want to read a book that Annette has written if she wrote it then I know I will love it. Although the books are very sad they help to teach us a little bit about our society. I choked up on a few occasions while reading Everything We Lose but I did enjoy following both Adam and Tip’s POV and hearing their stories from them.

I have loved reading books about the civil war and slavery ever since I read Roots and Gone With the Wind and watched the movies. I also like reading books about other wars like books about WWII and Hitler like The Diary of Anne Frank or books about the Vietnam War ever since I saw two tv shows, Tour of Duty and China Beach and after reading Peter Straub’s Koko. With the Vietnam War, it has always bothered me about so many guys that are MIA when they may not actually be missing in action.

Annette has done it again! She has written another great book one that will stay with me for a long time to come if not forever. If you are looking for a great book about the civil war and slavery that is right up there with Roots or Gone With the Wind then look no further as I think Everything We Lose will fit that category to a tee.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Civil War stories have intrigued me since I was a kid. I will never be able to understand how one human could think he owned another human as property. I have never understood the hatred between people based on their skin color. And I can't imagine what it would be like to be on a battlefield like that, especially when you may be fighting against your best friends or brothers. And then the horrors of the injuries and amputations.

Oppenlander's characters look like they should be on opposite sides, but instead they are best friends. This happened between slaves and sympathizers, but could be dangerous, especially when living in a state that is so split in loyalties. Tip and Adam have long been friends. The two of them end up in a situation that spells disaster for both of them and they start to go down different paths. Following Adam's story gives you some insight into what it was like being in the army. Following Tip's story gives you some insight into what it was like being a slave. Both of their stories are rooted in fact and based on real battles that took place.

I enjoyed those aspects of the book, but felt that some of the dramatic twists and turns were a bit more modern than historical. That's not to say that those things didn't happen then. I guess I'm just not used to reading them in an historical novel. That being said, those dramatic twists did make me think of some of those grand tales like North and South and Gone with the Wind, with a slight update in a couple of topics. For some readers, this will be perfect. Worth a read as now I am craving more Civil War stories. And I am curious about some of her other stories.

I gave it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Lynda Dickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning in August 1861 and ending in November 1865, we follow the lives of Adam, a fifteen-year-old farm boy, and his friend Tip, a slave on the neighboring Billings plantation. An incident causes Adam to run away and join the Union Army, while Tip tries to escape to freedom. Each action has a consequence, and the decisions the boys make will affect their own lives and those of everyone around them.

The story is told in alternating chapters from the points of view of Adam and Tip, providing two vastly different perspectives. The narrative is full of rich details about the homes, food, and lifestyles of the time. Through the story, the author highlights the terrible conditions, the inhuman treatment of slaves, and the horrors of war and makes it all the more real by incorporating actual historical figures and events into the plot. She doesn't assume any prior knowledge of the Civil War or of slavery and does a good job of explaining without lecturing. However, she does provide some background information at the end of the book. It’s interesting to note that, even though the war was fought over slavery, the soldiers themselves were considered the property of the army.

Terribly depressing throughout, it’s a good thing the story ends on a positive note.

Warnings: graphic violence, sodomy, animal cruelty, rape.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post (16 April): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book. There’s only one thing I can find to disagree with. Its genre is marked as Young Adult and I cannot think of an adult who wouldn’t enjoy it just as much. I couldn’t seem to read it fast enough to see what would happen with each chapter.
This book is set in the times of the Civil War, the times when people owned people, people had friendships that they couldn’t even acknowledge. While this book is set in the times during the Civil War, it is not a book about war. It is about families and experiences of people trying to live in the midst of the War. The War cannot help be mentioned because so many of the hardships as well as freedoms were by-products of the War. There is much emotion in this book. Oppenlander found a way to realistically touch on many emotions and yet in my opinion, there is nothing in this book that any age can’t read.
Each scene is so very vivid, as if you can see the farms and beautiful old homes ravaged by the war as well as the shacks many slaves lived in. Each personality was so well-defined that you could picture them in your own mind. That’s the key to a well-written book. One where you can step into the story, feel where you are and be a part of the people around you. Where you can feel their pain and their joy. Really an excellent book to put on your “to be read” list.

**This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

[DK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read For All We Lose, I felt transported back in time to the Civil War. Oppenlander has proven once again that she can capture the sights, smells, sweat, blood and tears of a time we wouldn't otherwise experience. This book is poignant today, as our nation is once again divided on lines of race, creed, color, and party. All things I thought we had left behind in our recent past. Well this is where it started, the days of slavery and the monumental effort to re-unite a divided country. Adam, a white youth, is thrown into the Union Army for reasons most personal and horrific. Tip, a young slave, Adam's best friend is subject to the horrors of slavery and braves his best efforts to escape the evil all around him.

The characters in Adam's military unit bring one into the pit of despair as a Union soldier, enduring unbelievable deprivation and fear. All along, it is a story of family, love and redemption. It’s a good story that will make it hard to put your book or e-reader down. I strongly recommend this novel to anyone with an interest in American history. Historical fiction, to me, is the best vehicle in this endeavor. Other great reads by Oppenlander are the Escape from the Past series set in mid-evil times, and Surviving the Fatherland, a story of German children caught in the horrors of WW2. A long neglected point of view.

[Ryan Troske · Rating 4 out of 5]

The summary given for this book says it all. It pretty much tells everything that is going to happen without giving all the specifics away.

I enjoyed the read. I'm no Civil War buff or anything, but I do enjoy pieces focused on the era, be it books or movies, or some other means. It was interesting to see how 2 lives, 2 different perspectives, changed over the course of the book. I would have liked if there was more focus on the war, but I realize that wasn't all this story was focusing on. It did touch on the everyday life and the emotions soldiers faces, but, as for me, I would have liked a bit more in that area. The pacing seemed a bit rushed at times. Some areas of the book are only a matter of days where others stretch over a year or more. Overall, I thought this was a good story, one I would happily recommend to any fans of historical fiction.

[Anne-Marie Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent story of love and loyalties that spanned the trials and hardships of the Civil War. We were exposed to the cruelty and greed of some plantation owners, as well as the kindness of others who, unfortunately, still seemed not to recognize the evil of "owning" another human being. We also were encouraged by true friendships and loyalty between men and women of white and color. Certainly a time of loss, uncertainty and the testing of character. The author did a very good job of helping us to connect with and empathize with the characters. A good, clean read with a satisfying ending.

[John Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading her recent book "Surviving the Fatherland", I decided that Annette Oppenlander's latest book "Everything we lose" was a must read. True to form I found it difficult to put down.
An American civil war novel, it highlights the injustices of the slavery in the South and what President Lincoln was trying to achieve.
I can thoroughly recommend it as a good insight into the situation in America at that time. Well written once again Annette!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling story set in the midst of the American Civil War. The author does not gloss over the horrors of war or the inhumanity of slavery.
This is a story of faith, hope, and determination. Of coming of age during the most troubled time in American history.
And most of all, it's a story of love and friendship that transcends race, politics, and distance.
Annette Oppenlander has once again given us a historical page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

A historical novel about finding courage and honor in the worst circumstances, “Everything We Lose” uses alternating points of view between Adam and Tip to show the Civil War and what it meant to both blacks and whites from the south.

Read full review in the 2018 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not often that i can read a book in little over a day, but 'Everything We Lose' certainly had me gripped from beginning to end. Such a wonderful story and so well written. I am not going to write what the story is about, as i prefer one to read the book for themselves. It is the second book that i have read by Annette Oppenlander and look forward to reading more by this author.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review, freely given.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

War , friendship and freedom

Story of a young man , Adam, his friends Tip and Wes. A story of slavery and a cruel slaveowner, an escape to freedom for Tip. Also a story of war and it's horrors. A friendship among the soldiers and a special friendship between Wes and Adam. A time when we all face our fears, triumph over adversity and love our family. A great tale of the civil war era.

[Lyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****

Recommend it highly! This Saga culminates, quite appropriately, on Thanksgiving Day of 1865. A story that finds a happy ending for the characters and renders the hopes of healing to a shattered, devastated world devastated by four years of War -Symbolizes what we as Americans ought to be externally thankful!

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow the hardship and journeys of the Tip and Adam as the two best friends, one white, one black, are cruelly torn apart amidst the strife of the Civil War. This is a page-turner of a novel that will linger in your mind long after you read it.

[Glenda Sparkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unconditional love

Two family struggle..One family slaves treated cruelly often starved. The other was used a pawn for selfish gains.Each survived the atrocity remained friends 💘 is a priceless commodity

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. An historical story of two friends, one black, one white and how their lives was impacted by their actions and the actions of others, during the civil war. I would recommend this book to people who like stories about war, and people with the strength to overcome all obstacles.

[Anna Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read....

First time reading this authors work, I enjoyed it very much. I thought the story was good. I liked the friendship between the young men. I enjoyed the ending.

[Gigi2u2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam and Tipper

This book was pretty good. I recommend reading this book. I'm not into love stories for the Germany preview book.

[Hitesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book

The Book helps you learn a lot about the civil war and it a good representation of what it is like.

[Linda Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything We Lose: A Civil War Novel of Hope, Courage and Redemption is a great book! Adam and Tip’s story is heart wrenching and full of heartache, as well as, exhibits the bravery of many of the time. The author did a great job of vividly describing how horrific the times were during this moment of history in the country. This is one of those books a reader would have a hard time putting down. I would give this book a 10 star if I could. I would definitely recommend. I plan to continue to read books by Annette Oppenlander as they come out.