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Captured! A Boy Trapped in the Civil War
Fourteen-year-old Johnny Ables, pressed into service in the Confederate army, is forced to participate in a major Civil War battle and ends up in an Indiana prison camp. Based on the true story of a real boy.
153 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 9, 2011
Based on a true story, and full of relevant historical photographs, this book fails to deliver on action in many ways. I do not think it will hold the interest of the 9-12 year old target audience.
Captured! Tells the story of a 14 year old farm boy boy named Johnny Ables. His father has died and he has to act as the man of the family. While doing chores he was captured by Confederate soldiers and pressed into service as a wood hauler. Ironically, those Confederate soldiers are themselves taken prisoner and Johnny is mistaken as a young Confederate soldier and is sent to prison camp in Indianapolis.
Mary Blair Immel writes that she wanted to stay true to the actual story of Johnny Ables' life. This even means not including an ending to the story because she could not find it in her research. This leaves it to the reader's imagination if the boy gets home.
This read, while historically accurate, was dry and boring.
Captured! Tells the story of a 14 year old farm boy boy named Johnny Ables. His father has died and he has to act as the man of the family. While doing chores he was captured by Confederate soldiers and pressed into service as a wood hauler. Ironically, those Confederate soldiers are themselves taken prisoner and Johnny is mistaken as a young Confederate soldier and is sent to prison camp in Indianapolis.
Mary Blair Immel writes that she wanted to stay true to the actual story of Johnny Ables' life. This even means not including an ending to the story because she could not find it in her research. This leaves it to the reader's imagination if the boy gets home.
This read, while historically accurate, was dry and boring.
January 15, 2012
Based on a true story, and full of relevant historical photographs, this book fails to deliver on action in many ways which will make it less attractive to the 10-14 year old (estimated) target audience..
It concerns a 14 year old boy named Johnny Ables who was captured by Confederate soldiers and pressed into service as a wood hauler. Ironically, those Confederate soldiers are themselves taken prisoner and Johnny is mistaken as a young Confederate soldier and is sent to prison camp (Camp Morton) in Indianapolis.
Although it will find a place on my classroom's bookshelf, I can only give this short volume 3 stars out of 5.
See more reviews of historical fiction, books on the Civil War and lots more at http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/
It concerns a 14 year old boy named Johnny Ables who was captured by Confederate soldiers and pressed into service as a wood hauler. Ironically, those Confederate soldiers are themselves taken prisoner and Johnny is mistaken as a young Confederate soldier and is sent to prison camp (Camp Morton) in Indianapolis.
Although it will find a place on my classroom's bookshelf, I can only give this short volume 3 stars out of 5.
See more reviews of historical fiction, books on the Civil War and lots more at http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/
June 5, 2012
This is a true story about a young boy, named Johnny, that was captured by Confederate soldiers to cut wood for their journey. Johnny’s adventure only starts when he is captured by the soldiers and gets even crazier when they arrive in the war. Both Johnny and the regiment he was with went through many events, such as being taken hostage by Union soldiers. When taken prisoner he endures a long agonizing journey on foot and by boat. Being a young boy making this hard voyage he isn’t able to keep up like with all the other real soldiers. When all the captured Confederate soldiers are put on a small boat, where they barely even have room to sit, things get even worse for Johnny. After the long boat ride he is taken with the rest of the prisoners to a prison camp run by the Union army. There he endures a hard time after trying to convince the Union officials that he isn’t a soldier. Being in the very unclean camp, Johnny quickly gets sick, making life for him even worse. This book has a very interesting and exciting story. It also includes photos of people and places Johnny saw which makes it all the more interesting. I would highly recommend this book to any historical book lover.
March 31, 2010
This is the story of a 14-year-old boy from Calloway County, Kentucky, who was captured by Confederate soldiers. In the winter of 1862, Johnny Ables was out with the family’s horses and wagon gathering wood. Confederate soldiers, in great need of horses and wagons, forced Johnny to join them. This book tells the story of Johnny’s relationship with his captors. It also tells about Johnny’s experience in the battle at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, in February 1862 and of his eventual imprisonment at Camp Morton in Indianapolis.
May 8, 2018
I have always been drawn to stories written about areas near me or that I have knowledge of through visiting them . Owning a vacation home on beautiful Kentucky Lake a few short miles from Fort Donelson , which is the sight of the Civil War battle in Captured! , left me no choice but to read this gem .
Well written and based on a true story , Captured! paints the picture of the area very clearly as it must have been during that time and as much of it still is today .... the cannons strategically placed over the water , the log huts , the trenches . Johnny , the main character as well as the other characters all come to life among the pages . This is the perfect historical tale of battle, equally joined with a heart wrenching look at those involved .
I had the good fortune to pick up my copy of this wonderful book at the Fort Donelson visitors center after speaking with two wonderful staff members there . Their knowledge they shared with me was as precious as the story itself . I found it interesting to hear that this is required reading in the schools in that area .
I notice many comments in the reviews about the age appropriateness for this book ... I myself won't even pretend to voice a worthy opinion on that , but I will say I personally enjoyed and loved all 153 pages . ;-) I think it is a must read for all lovers of history .
Well written and based on a true story , Captured! paints the picture of the area very clearly as it must have been during that time and as much of it still is today .... the cannons strategically placed over the water , the log huts , the trenches . Johnny , the main character as well as the other characters all come to life among the pages . This is the perfect historical tale of battle, equally joined with a heart wrenching look at those involved .
I had the good fortune to pick up my copy of this wonderful book at the Fort Donelson visitors center after speaking with two wonderful staff members there . Their knowledge they shared with me was as precious as the story itself . I found it interesting to hear that this is required reading in the schools in that area .
I notice many comments in the reviews about the age appropriateness for this book ... I myself won't even pretend to voice a worthy opinion on that , but I will say I personally enjoyed and loved all 153 pages . ;-) I think it is a must read for all lovers of history .
November 15, 2019
Captured! By Mary Blair Immel is about a young boy that leaves his house during the civil war to collect wood and in the process is kidnapped and his horse and wagon are stolen. He then is put into a military camp where he is made to do things he would have never imagined. The book explains all of the struggles that this young boy had to face alongside two dying men. In my opinion I think that this book really gives a good insight into the actual Civil War, differently than a history book could ever. I do think that this book we be good to pair with a history book in Jr. High to be able to see the outside and inside perspectives of this war. Most of the time there is not much personal experience that is taught throughout history of these wars.
January 6, 2026
I know I'm not the target audience for this book, but I did enjoy it.
It was a short quick read. I've lived in Indy my whole life and wouldn't have been able to tell you anything about Camp Morton or Colonel Owen prior to this book. There were several pages towards the end where it stopped feeling like a story and started feeling more like something trying to fit in all the historical points.
It was a short quick read. I've lived in Indy my whole life and wouldn't have been able to tell you anything about Camp Morton or Colonel Owen prior to this book. There were several pages towards the end where it stopped feeling like a story and started feeling more like something trying to fit in all the historical points.
March 9, 2018
This book was interesting because of the way the author uses primary source documents to create the "historical novel". At times the book was boring and slow moving, but I think the author helps the reader get a better feel for what life was like for soldiers during the US Civil War.
February 5, 2025
Read with a group of 3rd graders; interesting idea based on a possibly real incident, however there was not a lot of information about the Civil War, so it took a lot of sidebar explanations to help things make sense to them. Made for good discussion points. Read very slow in some parts.
January 18, 2013
Captured!
A Boy Trapped in the Civil War by Mary Blair Immel is based on an actual boy named Johnny Ables. Johnny lived during the Civil War and was captured by the Red Invincibles who fought for the Confederates. Johnny was only fourteen years old when he was captured. This was probably quite a shock to a boy who was only gathering wood for his family's farm when the confederates came upon him. While leaving his sisters and his mother it must have been terrifying.
I found this book enjoyable to read. I loved how Mary Blair Immel would go in great details about Johnny or anyone of the characters. Immel would give background information on the characters and what their lives were like before the Civil War. She brought facts and fiction into an amazing blend of truth and made up. She also added into her novel how she found out information on Johnny.
Some of my complaints are is that Immel kept the novel too dry. Sometimes it was like reading a history book. It really never had any excitement to it. I understand it is supposed to be a cross between fiction and nonfiction but I believe if she would have added more fiction to Johnny's story it might have a less of a dry tone.
Overall I found the novel a fun read. It gave me insight into the Civil War that I did not know, while having a story behind that information. If you like history and love the Civil War try this novel. If you do not like a lot facts, but you like more of a make believe genere do not try this novel. But if you do like historical fiction you won’t be disappointed in this novel. It's a fun read.
A Boy Trapped in the Civil War by Mary Blair Immel is based on an actual boy named Johnny Ables. Johnny lived during the Civil War and was captured by the Red Invincibles who fought for the Confederates. Johnny was only fourteen years old when he was captured. This was probably quite a shock to a boy who was only gathering wood for his family's farm when the confederates came upon him. While leaving his sisters and his mother it must have been terrifying.
I found this book enjoyable to read. I loved how Mary Blair Immel would go in great details about Johnny or anyone of the characters. Immel would give background information on the characters and what their lives were like before the Civil War. She brought facts and fiction into an amazing blend of truth and made up. She also added into her novel how she found out information on Johnny.
Some of my complaints are is that Immel kept the novel too dry. Sometimes it was like reading a history book. It really never had any excitement to it. I understand it is supposed to be a cross between fiction and nonfiction but I believe if she would have added more fiction to Johnny's story it might have a less of a dry tone.
Overall I found the novel a fun read. It gave me insight into the Civil War that I did not know, while having a story behind that information. If you like history and love the Civil War try this novel. If you do not like a lot facts, but you like more of a make believe genere do not try this novel. But if you do like historical fiction you won’t be disappointed in this novel. It's a fun read.
January 21, 2013
In the book Captured A Boy Trapped In The Civil War by Mary Blair Immel A simple farm boy goes on a journey that changes him the book starts at a boy named Johnny Albes who lives in Calloway Country, Kentucky who is kidnapped by Confederate soldiers when he is chopping wood. I think that the message of this book could be never give up because during the entire book Johnny wanted to go home and he gets his wish.
I feel strongly for the man character Johnny because he was taken from his home without an option and he had to do whatever he was told. He was the main character in the book and he was very sad and discouraged throughout the book because he was worried about his family when he was taken since his father passed away and he had to take care of them. I think that he evolved a little because he wasn’t too worried about his family when the book began but when the book continued he gets even more and more worried about them as the book continues. I think the way I thought about the character was intended because he had a hard time being away from his loved ones.
I thought the book wasn’t too good at all I didn’t really like it and it was a boring book where almost nothing at all happened. I didn’t see anything that the author did that I like because it wasn’t a good book. I didn’t like the book because it was boring and because the book was extremely dramatic so I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone.
I feel strongly for the man character Johnny because he was taken from his home without an option and he had to do whatever he was told. He was the main character in the book and he was very sad and discouraged throughout the book because he was worried about his family when he was taken since his father passed away and he had to take care of them. I think that he evolved a little because he wasn’t too worried about his family when the book began but when the book continued he gets even more and more worried about them as the book continues. I think the way I thought about the character was intended because he had a hard time being away from his loved ones.
I thought the book wasn’t too good at all I didn’t really like it and it was a boring book where almost nothing at all happened. I didn’t see anything that the author did that I like because it wasn’t a good book. I didn’t like the book because it was boring and because the book was extremely dramatic so I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone.
December 29, 2012
February 2012 ** This interesting chapter-book renews the question of, "What genre is it?" I was initially drawn to it because I live in a neighborhood now known as Herron-Morton, and my home rests on ground once occupied by Camp Morton's guards. Also, as a fourth grade teacher, my students study Indiana's history, and I knew several would be interested in the fictionalized experiences of this boy who was just a few years older than they.
Immel came to write Captured! A Boy Trapped in the Civil War because she'd read a brief account of a boy cutting fire wood in the forests of Tennessee during the American Civil War. He was taken by Confederate troops, who wanted his horse and wagon. Following a battle, the Confederates were captured by the Union troops and the boy (who wasn't a soldier) was incarcerated in Camp Morton, Indianapolis, a Union PoW camp.
Immel makes clear that this is a work of fiction. There aren't any primary sources to reveal the exact dialogue or day-to-day events in this boy's life. However, she found herself wondering what his experiences might have been like, so she made them up.
Immel came to write Captured! A Boy Trapped in the Civil War because she'd read a brief account of a boy cutting fire wood in the forests of Tennessee during the American Civil War. He was taken by Confederate troops, who wanted his horse and wagon. Following a battle, the Confederates were captured by the Union troops and the boy (who wasn't a soldier) was incarcerated in Camp Morton, Indianapolis, a Union PoW camp.
Immel makes clear that this is a work of fiction. There aren't any primary sources to reveal the exact dialogue or day-to-day events in this boy's life. However, she found herself wondering what his experiences might have been like, so she made them up.
November 9, 2012
I love HISTORY! This little book on the true story of a boy who was kidnapped during the Civil War...was one more added piece to the vast stories during this terrible part of our history...I was so touched by the HUMANITY that was done in this boy's behalf...Just wish...we KNEW..."the rest of the story"...
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December 6, 2012this book ewas very good. there were times that you felt bad for the main character. bu overall it was very good and had alot of action moments. there are times were you are waiting to find out what happens to the kid named johnny, and it just bores you with facts leading up to the anwser. overall it was a very good book.
December 25, 2011
Loved this quick read and it's ties to Indiana, my home state. I thought it was told with great emotion and wonderful detail - so many of the things the author describes I felt like I was actually seeing. Very interesting story.
January 14, 2013
Seeing the movie, "Lincoln" created some curiosity in me about him and the Civil War. I picked up this small book at a sale. It would be a good book for middle schoolers to read and discuss.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews