Elise the Actress: Climax of the Civil War (1865)

Sisters in Time #13

by Norma Jean Lutz

Time Period: With the nation convulsed by civil war, Elise Brannon wants people to look past the depressing news that arrives daily from the battlefields: Through her love of acting, she'll make them laugh and forget-at least for awhile. But even her optimism is challenged when a family friend dies from battle wounds. . .she's captured by a band of deserters. . .and President Lincoln is assassinated. Elise the Actress uses actual historical events to tell the poignant fictional story of a ten-year-old girl growing up in very trying times. It's an excellent tool for teaching both history and the Christian faith!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Christian Fiction, Civil War, Christian, Historical

141 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

Norma Jean Lutz’s writing career began when she enrolled in a writing correspondence course. Since then, she has had over 250 short stories and articles published in both secular and Christian publications. The full-time writer is also the author of over 50 published books under her own name and many ghostwritten books. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Affair de Coeur, Coffee Time Romance, Romance Reader at Heart, and The Romance Studio magazines, and her short fiction has garnered a number of first prizes in local writing contests.

Norma Jean is the founder of the Professionalism In Writing School, which was held annually in Tulsa for fourteen years. This writers' conference, which closed its doors in 1996, gave many writers their start in the publishing world.

A gifted teacher, Norma Jean has taught a variety of writing courses at local colleges and community schools, and is a frequent speaker at writers' seminars around the country. For eight years, she taught on staff for the Institute of Children's Literature. She has served as artist-in-residence at grade schools, and for two years taught a staff development workshop for language arts teachers in schools in Northeastern Oklahoma.

As co-host for the Tulsa KNYD Road Show, she shared the microphone with Kim Spence to present the Road Show Book Club, a feature presented by the station for more than a year. She has also appeared in numerous interviews on KDOR-TV.

Norma Jean has brought out past out-of-print novels to create a new series. These teen novels (which she likes to call "Clean Teen Reads") were published in the 1980s and 90s, yet the story lines are timeless. Sporting new titles and new book covers, these books will become part of the "Norma Jean Lutz Classic Collection" series.

Her newest teen offering is Brought to You By the Color Drab. A story of a young man living in the ghetto who seemingly was born in the wrong place in the wrong time. This is a story of redemption!

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pre Teens- Three Stars
New Teens- Three Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
This book feels very connected to the previous book, but because the names are all different, it gets quite confusing with it being written by the same author. Those notes aside, I liked Elise and her heart for others and making them laugh. She did have to learn about weeping with those who are weeping, but that’s an important lesson shown in this middle-grade read.


{{Official Content Review to Come.}}

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many good things about this children's story: a kind-hearted, spunky girl looking out for the underdog, the historical sound and feel of things, the family ties, the importance of forgiveness...but there is too much hero worship of Lincoln, even if historically accurate. There is also a bit more telling than showing, perhaps, though I didn't find it to detract too much from the enjoyment of reading.

[Ille · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Elise the Actress: Climax of the Civil War' is a very good book in the Sisters In Time series. Each book in the series is about the main character (a girl between the ages of 10 and 12) and her life during an important time period in American history.
The Sisters In Time books are historical fiction - the events in them are real, but the main characters and their families in each book are fictional. Each book in the series links Christian values into the plot, too.

In this book, Elise Brannon uses her love of theatre and acting to bring joy to others during the American Civil War.

Although the Sisters In Time series is aimed at girls between the ages of 8 and 12, this is a very good book and I would recommend it to any females who like reading historical fiction books.

[Josiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

I REALLY LOVE it. I LOVE how they show that God still loves even through hard times. Please keep up the good work. Please for this is the only series I can find that is christian. (Real Christian) God bless

[Dalaina Renee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible book the riddles were lame. Why was a young child trying to befriend a grown man? Who lived alone? That is not a good lesson for kids. Seriously god was weeping over the president barf not reading anymore of this series sorry it’s awful!!

[SWC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fictional characters set in a historical setting during the Civil War.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to find this series for my 10 and 7 year old daughters! They are avid readers, but I liked the Christian background of these books as an alternative to American girl and Dear America, which they also enjoy immensely. Elise experiences the loss of friends and some minor bullying resulting from her choices to do what she sees as right during the ending of the war. The book does not handle her deception with her parents, or the fact that her "gifts" to the needy are really supplies stolen from her family's larder. Otherwise, it is an uplifting tale that brings victory from tragedy.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the way this author handled the North's judgmental attitude toward Southerners and toward deserters. The children have to learn how to overcome their prejudices in light of events that affect their families. The situation with the deserters was a bit far-fetched, but the resolutions were sufficient. Great book for middle-school girls.

[Jana Henderson (Reviews from the Stacks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a great for girls who love the American Girls books, especially if you appreciate a Christian viewpoint. This was one of my favorites as a little girl, but the entire series is good for young chapter book readers.