After the Rain: Virginia's Civil War Diary

Virginia's Civil War Diary #2

by Mary Pope Osborne, Will Osborne

In the final months of the Civil War, Virginia and her family move to Washington, D.C., where the cold winter brings uncertainty and hardship. Virginia takes a job as a servant in a wealthy home to help her family. But, just as things start to improve -- as her father gets a job and the war finally comes to an end -- the tragic assassination of Ginny's beloved President Lincoln occurs. In this, her second diary chronicling the Civil War, Ginny learns that life is constantly changing. Indeed, even as Lincoln dies, her nephew is born. Throughout, Ginny faces life with hope and courage.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Civil War, Diary, War, Middle Grade, American History

Library Binding

First published April 1, 2002

About the author

Mary Pope Osborne is an American author of children's books and audiobook narrator. She is best known as the author of the Magic Tree House series, which as of 2017 sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, including for Osborne's charitable efforts at promoting children's literacy. One of four children, Osborne moved around in her childhood before attending the University of North Carolina. Following college, Osborne traveled before moving to New York City. She somewhat spontaneously began to write, and her first book was published in 1982. She went on to write a variety of other children's and young adult books before starting the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Osborne's sister Natalie Pope Boyce has written several compendium books to the Magic Tree House series, sometimes with Osborne's husband Will Osborne.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Virginia thought that things would be better once she, her father, and her brother moved to Washington D.C. during the civil war, but she quickly found out that wasn't the case. Although the Civil War is coming to an end, there are many things they have to deal with as a family. It's cold, food and money are scarce. Virginia winds up having to take a job when her father gets hurt in his job. Sometimes it's just too much for a little 10 year old girl to take. I'm hoping the 3rd book will bring more joy and prosperity to her and the rest of her family.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taken from the Goodreads synopsis. "Part of the My America relaunch, in Ms. Osborne's sequel to My Brother's Keeper, Ginny moves to Washington, D.C. where she must face changing times, marked by the assassination of President Lincoln.

In the final months of the Civil War, Virginia nad her family move to Washington, D.C. where the cold winter brings uncertainty and hardship. Virginia takes a job as a servant in a wealthy home to help her family. But, just as things start to improve as her father gets a job, and the war finally comes to an end, the tragic assassination of Ginny's beloved President Lincoln occurs. In this, her second diary chronicling the Civil War, Ginny learns that life is constantly changing. Indeed, even as Lincoln dies, her nephew is born. Throughout, Ginny faces life with hope and courage."

I have enjoyed this series. It gives a voice to the young people that are going to the pains of living life, during troubled times in our young, 1864-1865, American history.
This story as a few more things going on than many of the other books in this series. Author did a good job of telling a young person's views, fears, determination and celebrations while a very dark part of history is happing around her. This is a fiction book with nonfiction events. Author did a good job of mixing the two together. Mary Osborne was able to give you a look through the eyes of someone living through history making events.

[Jessica Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read the first book. I liked the story. I began and finished it in an hour, so definitely a short story. What I liked best....They often say that history is only written from the perspectives of rich people. Even though this is a fictional story, I liked how historical events were viewed from the eyes of a poor girl.

[Meghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Virginia wasn’t as likable in this diary and moroseness dragged on throughout. Childbirth in the 1860s was not portrayed accurately.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers the time period before and after Abraham Lincoln's assassination as seen from a child's perspective.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten-year-old Virginia Dickens, along with her father, older brother Jed, and Jed's wife Jane Ellen, have left Gettysburg to move to Washington, D.C. in the fall of 1864. Jed hopes to become a newspaper reporter, but instead finds himself in a dull, low-paying job setting type. The family finds themselves living a tiny house, unable to even afford to send Ginny to school. The Civil War is finally coming to an end, but the winter is still a long and bleak one. Ginny's father is badly injured and is unable to work, and Ginny herself must take a job as a servant in a wealthy home to help make ends meet. But there is a bright spot, as Ginny looks forward to the birth of Jed and Jane Ellen's new baby. I highly recommend Virginia's second diary to all fans of the My America series.

[Shannon McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book was better then the first. It could be that there were more moments I could relate to like Virginia letting envy get into her heart because her family was poor and she worked for a rich family with children her age that got more than her. Yes I could relate to that.

While this book was pretty down for the most part it wasn’t down the whole time. It like life had it’s ups and downs where in the first book I didn’t see much ups at all.

Although this is a second book in Virginia’s books it can be read by it self. I can see this one making a good book report for the kids.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is 1864 and the Civil War is raging. My family is experiencing quite an adjustment after moving to Washington City; we now live in a shabby house of three rooms and a small kitchen; we eat beans and bread. Jed works at the newspaper to support our family; Pa continues to look for a job. I get a job working for Mrs. Porter. I envy her wealthy grandchildren; they have everything I don't have---beautiful clothes, gifts, and travel. Will I ever find tranquility within myself and will our nation ever find peace?

I am ten-year-old Virginia Dickens;AFTER THE RAIN is my Civil War Diary.

Second book of three books in the Virginia Dickens series.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story starts out in November of 1964. Virginia is ten, and her family has just moved to Washington, D.C. The city was not really finished yet, though, and there were swamps and lots of mud around. There's an excessively cold winter, and finding jobs is not easy. Virgina ends up working as a sort of maid for a woman, though, in order to bring in some money to help her family.

Virginia really likes Lincoln and gets to see him and his son Tad riding their horses.

As the story progresses, the news from the war keeps getting better until the South finally ends its fighting. The last part of the story concerns the assassination of Lincoln and how people react to that.

[Kassy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is interesting because it's about a girl's daily life.They go to Washington to live.Sometimes,she don't want to be herself because their family is a little poor.She wants to be in an richer family like a family she had seen.The life in Washington is not easy.The president Lincoln was shot and dead.She feels very sad.Her brother got married.Their first Thanksgiving they was not very thankful because they didn't have much money to live.But they love each other.If you want to read another review, you can read it in book 3.

[Jennifer Bean]

This would be a good book to use for a genre in historical fiction.

Instructional possiblities could be

Read aloud to students in lower grades
Keeping a diary of current events
Have students write a historical piece on what their leves would have been like during the Civil War
Compare and Contrast student's life with Virginia's

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The diary of Virgina who is living in Washington D. C. as the Civil War ends. How the author manages to wind the story into the assassination of Abraham Lincoln was very well done. Overall, I really do wish there was a lot more substance to the book, but this one actually wasn't a bad introduction to this portion of history for young readers.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters didn't experience much growth here until the very very end. It was a little disturbing when Virginia wrote in her diary that she wanted to die. A little much for the intended audience of this book.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great book from the series i love!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great and it also taught me how life was during the Civil War.

[Jenna Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think After the rain was a little better than the first book. It had drama,suspense,a bit of grief,and a pinch of action.

[Jennifer Gamel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story really gives a feel of what a little girl would have felt during civil war times.

[Stephanie Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like it as well as the first. There did not seem to be any character growth.

[Anna Kwasniewski]

It was really easy to read!

[Patrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of war stories.

[Gabrielle Neufeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book a 3 because I think the history aspect of it is important for students to read and be exposed to and I thought it was written well. I didn't give more than a 3 though because it was not written with much of a plot. There is a plot, but the way it is written gives very little rise and fall in emotion while reading.

Lexile: 590L
Grade Equivalent: 3.1

6 Traits:
Ideas

[Talley]

good book.