Clara Barton: Courage Under Fire

Heroes of History #7

by Janet Benge, Geoff Benge

Known during the Civil War as the "Angel of the Battlefield," remarkable Clara Barton risked everything to save countless lives on the frontlines of battle. Once a painfully timid child, Clara was as bold as a lion when it came to helping others, whether wayward schoolboys, natural-disaster victims, or dying soldiers.

Clara fought for U.S. approval of the Geneva treaty for the care of war wounded, organized the American Red Cross, and tirelessly dedicated her life to its service. Her courage and compassion impacted thousands of people around the globe - black and white, Christian and Muslim, Spanish and American, Confederate and Union. An incredible story of service and sacrifice (1821-1912).

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Civil War, Biography Memoir, American Civil War, Childrens

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 18, 2003

About the author

Janet and Geoff Benge are a husband and wife writing team with twenty years of writing experience. They are best known for the books in the two series Christian Heroes: Then & Now series and Heroes of History. Janet is a former elementary school teacher. Geoff holds a degree in history. Together they have a passion to make history come alive for a new generation. Originally from New Zealand, the Benges make their home in the Orlando, Florida, area.

Reviews

[Daniel Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely introverted as a child, she emerged as a compassionate yet firm force when it came to helping others. First as a teacher, then as a self taught nurse during the Civil War. With northern approval, she was permitted to help wounded soldiers at the front line. She was fearless and risked her life. After the war ended, she lobbied Congress to establish the American Red Cross. She was there at age 76 during the Spanish-American War, and also for the Johnstown flood and the Galveston hurricane.

[Heather(Gibby) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a vague notion of who Clara Barton was. However after listening to this book I am blown away with what an incredible woman she was. If she saw a need, she found a way to fill it and nothing could stand in her way. She is a true hero, and I think more should be done to remember her.

This was the first book I listened to in the Heroes of History Series. It did a really good job of making history come to life!

[Sophie -( New year, new reading motivation)- · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this a while ago. But it is still Amazing. I had no clue Clara barten was that old when she started nursing in the Civil war.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can survive rough times when God is on your side.

[Leslie Goddard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really a mixed review. I have trouble with historical fiction marketed as biography. And this really is historical fiction, in the sense that there is a lot of made-up dialogue and storytelling.

For example, we can’t really know just exactly what was the conversation between Barton and her teacher when she arrived for her first day of school already able to spell “artichoke”, can we? Or the precise details of her discussion with the soldier who told her she could keep working on a battlefield another hour if she was able to ride a horse to get away? These are fiction, not dialogue recorded at the time for the historical record.

On the other hand, the factionalized part of this history is what makes it so readable. It’s a fast, easy read, making it perfect for late elementary/early secondary students or anyone who is interested in biography but hates lengthy biography. The made-up dialogue makes it lively.

And it does provide a nicely succinct overview of Barton’s life. The broad action is accurate and it covers most of the significant details that make her life worth remembering.

Of course, it might not entirely please fiction-lovers either. Like most historical fiction based on an actual life story, it doesn’t work the same way outright fiction does. There isn’t a singular storyline building to a dramatic climax — life stories don’t usually work that way. It’s not a novel.

For someone wanting a fast, entertaining fictional story about Clara Barton’s life, this would fit the bill. For those interested in an accurate biography of Barton, this probably isn’t the best book.

[JD' · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harriet Tubman and Clara Barton are my two favorite women in American history. She was alive for the assassination of 3 president's: Abraham Lincoln, Garfield and William McKinley.
Clara Barton started being a nurse to her own brother as just a teenager following the doctor's orders of putting leeches on her brother to take away his life blood. For 2 years she dutifully did this, unbeknownst to her that she was slowly taking away the life of her brother.
Who could guess that one day this shy teenager would go into the front lines of the Civil War to save the lives of both union and southern, black and white, Christian or not Christian, friend or enemy. Clara would start the Red Cross in America. She would bind up the wounds of the soldiers who would have died if not for her. Even at the age of 76 she would go to the front lines of the Spanish War that lasted 100 days.
Clara said the only reason the Spanish War happened was because of the maelstrom of the media. Even in the 1800's, it is interesting to read about fake news and the cancel culture of the Turkish hiding the genocide of Armenians that she would write about in her memoirs.
As king Solomon says in Ecclesiastes, "is there anything new under the sun."

[Kathryn Egly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew of Clara Barton from the Red Cross, but never knew much about her. Wow, what a fascinating life!!!

She was a SUPER SHY young girl, so her parents encouraged her to become a teacher. Though she was INCREDIBLY nervous at first, she learned that she was really good at it! She quickly learned how to connect with her students, and they loved and respected her. Clara taught for many years, and even help get free public education started in states that didn't have it yet.

Reading stories like this give me hope for each human. Clara was a simple girl that noticed a gap or problem, and filled the gap or helped solved the problem. We can do great things by starting small.

I'm thankful for women like Clara. She carved the way for a woman like me! She was a leader before women were allowed to lead. She was hard-working, creative, respectful, but bold.

I'd recommend this book to any female! Moms, read it to your girls!!!

[Emily Hoornstra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do appreciate Clara Barton and all her contributions to society. However, this particular book bothered me in certain ways. Namely, the spin that was put on different scenarios. Clara is amazing vs. the men she's working with are ignorant and stupid. The North is clearly in the right and virtuous vs. everything about the South is simply wrong. The supposed need for the U.S. to be part of an international relief organization vs. something national. There was a lot of downplaying the foibles of whichever side we were supposed to be rooting for while simultaneously extending no grace to the flip side. The last third of the book just didn't sit right with me. But again, still grateful for her contributions.

[Lavinia Curletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is written for a younger audience, I found the information about this very special woman inspirational. I thought I remembered her to be a nurse, but that was because of her intermittent service as a medical aide in wartime and her critical role in establishing and promoting the Red Cross Service in the USA. I did not know what other amazing successes she accomplished in education, personal care, social justice, and international humanitarian cooperation. To be 79 years old and still called upon by one's country, especially as a woman in her day, is remarkable!

[Emma James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic, well written book about the story of Clara Barton. While I knew some of the facts like how she helped start the Red Cross, I didn't know other things like how she had been a school teacher for many years before entering nursing, and the impact she had on the US and Geneva convention. I admired that she had a strong will to help those in need and to just keep going and serving even until her 70s and 80s. Highly recommend this read.

[Beth Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, books in this series create a story of the subjects life. Making it easy and fun to read. I learned all about Clara's good works and her eventual success at bring the US to be part of the Red Cross. So nice to learn about all of the background behind the two sentence summary I got in history class.

[Kathleen Meacham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phenomenal woman -- much more diverse background than I remembered. Read a biography about her ~50 years ago. It was particularly interesting to me personally to hear about her serving in the areas where I currently live. Also mentioned several times was Dansville, NY, which is only a stone's throw from where I grew up. I do so enjoy this series of Heroes of History.

[Judy Zell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, fast read but I learned so much. She was never trained as a nurse, and got involved in the Civil War and Spanish-American War almost by accident. She was primarily responsible for getting the U.S. to join the Geneva Convention. She fought for the rights of women, prisoners, blacks, and even Muslims.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple and to the point book about this most amazing woman. Establishing the Red Cross in America is what she's known for but there was so much more to her. There is so much we don't get to know about figures in history but most especially about women in history. I thoroughly enjoyed this little book.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read and captivating story and this comes from someone who was quite bored in history class growing up. I would love to read other books from their series! God bless you!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. This lady lived a life of caring for others no matter who they were.

[Niki Pennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. I learned so much about this remarkable woman, and new details about world history. I love this series.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this with my kids. We liked it on a whole, but for young kids I would give less stars because it was fairly gory and depressing.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is our new hero. WHAT a woman!!!!

[Caitlin Beardall Schwanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspiring story of a selfless woman who desired to relieve human suffering wherever she found it.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Interesting to learn more about Clara Barton, the medical service she provided during the Civil War, and her involvement in the Red Cross.

[Dayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compared to the previous biographies about Clara Barton, this biography shows her ability to work with powerful obstacles—overcoming most. Her entire life she was a nurse dedicated to making people better.

[Robert Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clara Barton has an amazing testimony, and God really used her in times of great needs. So encouraging; great story! All glory be to God.

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of lots of fascinating details. I used this to create a historic persona of Clara Barton for our homeschool studies in 2009.
I reread this in 2023 while my husband was reading a different book of surprising people connected to the Battle of Fredericksburg in the Civil War (mostly literary people) but Clara Barton wasn't mentioned. As he regaled me on the history of Louisa May Alcott during the war, I tried to recall all the details I had learned about Clara Barton because she was also from Massachusetts as was Alcott.
It was really great rereading this book now that I live in Northern Virginia (Fairfax and Fredericksburg) where Barton ministered to the wounded. When I read the book in 2009 I was moving to Virginia from Texas, living at the time in Maryland while house hunting, so now I'm more in tune with all the locations in Washington DC, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Harpers Ferry, and Antietam. I've twice been to Antietam where she supplied the surgeon with needed supplies, especially lanterns.
I was really sad to learn from my husband the sad story of Alcott's family and had forgotten a similar heartbreak that Barton had suffered. Whereas all that hurt had caused Alcott to ignore Southern soldiers and even be rude to them, Barton mercifully tended to all the wounded from both the North and the South, even though her inspiration to tend to the wounded was inspired by discovering her fellow neighbors from Massachusetts had been attacked en route to Washington DC by Southern sympathizers.

[Kristina Arnold]

This is a book for intermediate students who are learning about different charachters of the civil war. A great book especially since many women are now shown in this time period.

[Hailey Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was more like a collaboration of facts than an actual story. It wasn't bad, just not what I was hoping for.

[Taunya Rosenquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised at the ties to the Free Masons in this book. But I enjoyed this little book I read with Aliza very much.

[Kevin Koppelmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely great book! I had no idea about her life and what a great human and life story. I just re-read this. Great book!!!

[Allyson Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clara Barton's story is so powerful to me! I'm amazed by how many times I've reread this and yet I don't grow tired of it. She is definitely a worthy role model!

[September · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very patriotic book. Amazing story. Amazing life.
I must say this story changed something in me. And I feel new inspirations. I should read it again.
Emotional read.