The Journal of James Edmond Pease: A Civil War Union Soldier, Virginia, 1863

My Name Is America

by Jim Murphy

Librarian's Note: This is alternate cover edition #1
ISBN 10: 059043814X
ISBN13: 9780590438148
See: Original Record Here

Newbery Honor author Jim Murphy portrays the brave and rigorous army life of a 16-year-old Union soldier who has been ordered by his commanding officer to keep a written record of G Company during the most brutal years of the Civil War.
--- Amazon

James Edmond, a sixteen-year-old orphan, keeps a journal of his experiences and those of "G" Company which he joined as a volunteer in the Union Army during the Civil War.
--- Library of Congress

Note: All information herein, such as number of pages, publisher, etc., refer to this alternate cover edition and may or may not coincide with the main entry for this ISBN or any other alternate covers.

~

Genres: Historical Fiction, Civil War, Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Historical

173 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1998

About the author

An American author of more than 35 nonfiction and fiction books for children, young adults, and general audiences, including more than 30 about American history. He won the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 2010 for his contribution in writing for teens. Jim lives in Maplewood, New Jersey, in a hundred-year-old house with his wife Alison Blank, a children’s TV producer and children’s book author and editor, his two talented musician sons, a regal mutt, an African water frog that will live forever, and a house vast collection of books..

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In fifth grade, I was assigned to read a Dear America book for history class; the teacher said it was for "advanced readers," but, I found it to be easy, although very well-written and eye-opening. In recent years, I've read several titles in the series; my local library used to have a big collection of them in the Juvenile Popular Series section, but, those went away around the same time as the Wishbone books. Some entries in the Dear America series have been really good; others, not so much.

How was this one? Really good; it brought the Civil War to life in a big way. While it was a bit edgy for a kids' book--I was surprised by the usage of a profanity and an anatomical slang word--as an adult, I enjoyed it. It was also fun to see the previous' owner's name written in the front; he also left a bookmark in there that had to be really old, as it was a promo for a place that closed a while ago. (Yes, I bought this book at a garage sale.) I hope the other ones I purchased are just as good if not better.

[Andrea Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a neat story that I mostly enjoyed. It’s a realistic look at what the Civil War might have been like.

I was disappointed that there were nearly a dozen expletives, two derogatory expletives, at least three profanities, one crude comment, alcohol, and tobacco products used in a children’s book. Those are not great things to have in a children’s story, but it would open up some great discussion about appropriate and non-appropriate behavior.

Rating: 4 stars

I was not compensated for my honest review.

[Erin Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely excellent. Murphy does a great job portraying the day to day life of a Union soldier. I'm not generally interested in military history, but the long scenes of fighting were handled so well that it made me want to learn more about the battles of the Civil War. This book showcases the range of different reasons Union soldiers fought, and doesn't fall into the mistake of making the Union soldiers idealistic abolitionist heros. Be warned that Murphy chooses to use the n word in this book - it appears twice - if memory serves, once from a Rebel soldier and once in the mouth of a Union soldier. In my opinion it serves a useful purpose in a book of this nature, and was used appropriately by this author.

Side note - in my edition the author apparently used Ctrl-f to abbreviate all instances of Major to Maj. The epilogue refers to the "maj.ity of" soldiers. 😅

[JC Roadman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third dear America/ my name is America book I have read!!

[Mina Batra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book only because it seemed interesting to my partners. I was surprised at how much action there was though. I ended up giving the book four stars instead of one or two as I originally thought before I read this book. I learned that you should NEVER judge a book by its cover literally

[Jorge · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Journal of James Edmond Pease is a really good book that talks about the civil war of Virginia. This book is about private James Edmond Pease's expierience during Virginia's civil war. Learn how James survived during the war and his life afterwards. This book will teach readers to never lose hope and to never give up. People who read this book will get new perspectives about life and war.

[Jacob]

The Journal Of James Edmond Pease, A Civil War Union Soldier Book Review

The second book that I read this term was The Journal Of James Edmond Pease, A Civil War Union Soldier by Jim Murphy. Basically, the book is about the adventures that James has while fighting for the Union in the Civil War. The book focuses on the Civil War battles that take place in Virginia and describes the part that James plays in them.

My favorite part of the book was when James got separated from the rest of the Union Army during the confusion of a battle and was able to find the Union again because a slave family risked their lives to help him. This was my favorite part because it showed me how kind people really can be. Despite the fact that they would be brutally beaten and probably killed if they were caught, Sally and her slave family helped James escape from enemy territory simply because they believed in his cause and they thought he needed help. The selfless act of helping James escape showed that there will always be helpful, comforting and reassuring people out there in the real world no matter how depressing, mean and foreboding your perception of the world may be. That scene from the book has really stuck with me, and I think it will continue to do so for a long time and provide me with a little bit of comfort whenever I am feeling down.

Although I could not find any direct answer to why Jim Murphy wrote the book, I think that the answer is pretty obvious. The Journal Of James Edmond Pease, A Civil War Union Soldier is part of a Scholastic series called "My Name is America"** in which each book is written by a different author (there are a few exceptions to this rule--Jim Murphy wrote four "My Name is America" books). I'm pretty sure that Scholastic just asked Jim Murphy to write the book because they wanted another book in their series. Jim Murphy probably accepted Scholastic's offer simply because Scholastic would give him money for writing it and the new book would promote Jim Murphy as an author. Assuming that what went on between Scholastic and Jim Murphy happened to be something like what I just described, I would definitely have chosen to write the book if I was Jim Murphy.

I connected with the book because it was written in a journal format. Writing in a journal format is something that I do a fair amount of, so I am very familiar with it. Because I write journals frequently, I felt like this book meant something more to me than books that are composed of different forms of writing. I also think that reading journal-type publications makes me feel like I am actually there with whomever the journal is about because people--fictional and real--seem to be more comfortable with confiding personal information into journal entries than into other writing. When I know more personal things about a character, it makes me feel like I know them better and it makes it easier to put myself in their shoes when I know what type of person they are.

The book taught me that you should always make time for other people regardless of the situation that you are in. It was very important for James to remain in good spirits because he was risking his life in battle almost every day. He made himself happy by helping others and making them happy, which is the most honorable way of making yourself cheerful. I learned that I can only live a truly happy life if I do what James did in the book. I know this because of all the great things I have learned this year in sixth grade about how to be a bucket-filler and not a bucket-dipper.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read. It has a little bit of everything in it, so it would satisfy a wide variety of readers. It has blood and battles and action, and yet it is also a very quiet and contemplative sort of book--a significant amount of the text describes the battles that go on inside James's head and not only the ones outside of it. The book has sharp contrast between thrilling battle scenes and quiet scenes where James just sits at a campfire. You never quite know what to expect with this book, so readers will be kept guessing about the next turn of events. I have to say that this was a very captivating little book. I think that Jim Murphy totally scored with this book.

**Note: If you are interested in reading this book or any of the other "My Name is America" books, please click on the link below. It will take you to a webpage that lists all of the books in the series up to date.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Name_...

[Aditi S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it but there were some details that were missing since most of the dear America books give you every detail. Other than that the book was gray and gave you a chance to see another prospective all together.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know too much about the later battles of the Civil War — so this was interesting.

It did remind me of one of the sources I used in one of my college history classes which was corroborated in the “About the Author section”. Which I find incredibly interesting.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had some very colorful language and a tiny hint of racism. (Not cool 😑 because I personally don't like that type of encouragement. ) I also feel sorry for James. 😔

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book, “On Enemy Soil” by Jim Murphy is based on James Edmond Pease’s experience being a soldier jotting down what is happening in his war. Explaining that he has gotten a rank up to being a sargent. I suggest this book to kids and adults who like reading about other people’s life. I liked this book because I can “see” what is happening when im reading the words from the book. Another reason why I liked this book was because it has a lot of meaning to me to be able to rank up as a soldier but also that he doesn’t have a family near to send letters to or receive letters from his family.

[Samuel Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is genuinely fantastic. It's so well written, believeable, and with characters you love, all while never straying from the journal form that keeps you immersed. So well done.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

James is an orphan, raised by Aunt and Uncle. They do not make him feel loved or welcome, so he escapes during the night. After days of walking, he joins the 122 Regiment of NY Volunteers of Onondaga County. In later campfires, as each tells why they volunteered, James brings laughter when he responds, "I needed a pair of boots and a good meal."

He is chosen to keep a journal of the Regiment's History, because his handwriting is more legible than most. His impression of the early battles are sprinkled with biographies of his comrades.

I liked this account of the early Civil War and it was a natural progression, as James gained more skill, his eye for detail and his artistic ability gave a new insight into this period of history. When I read this, I gained new appreciation for the young people who soldiered.

What 15 year old in 2014 could or would endure those hardships?

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This account of an "unlucky" underage boy who lied his way into the Union army in order to get "boots and a hot supper" is a gripping story, told through entries in a diary and punctuated periodically by sketches, ostensibly done by Pease.

Not as much violence as there could have been, certainly, but still enough to make me think twice about letting my son read this (a precocious six year old) for another couple of years.

But a fine telling in a believable voice with top-notch maps and a fine historical note at the end.

"Luck is measured by the friends you make and the people you love."

[Elaine Shipley-pope · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am actually not a fan of the My Name Is America series. However I included them on my quest to read all the Dear America books. The reason why I'm not a fan is that I find them boring. I find them lacking something that the original Dear America series (for the most part) has. Though this specific book caught my interest long enough that I didn't struggle to make myself finish it. Its about a Civil War soldier who, at the command of his officer, keeps a journal to record the lives of his company. He gets separated from his troop but eventually, through some trials finds his way back to them.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember really liking this particular book. Mind you, I read it five years ago, but I believe I still recall a scene from the book: the main character going on a mad rampage against the enemy and successfully driving them back like a viking's beserker mode. That was one of my favourite scenes of all time and has stuck with me. What I learned from this book: Mad men are great fun.

[Katie]

very interesting and when you get to where james fights you can't lay the book down

[Nathan Albright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the author's first novel for a middle grade audience and for a debut audience it is quite accomplished.  That is not to say that this is a perfect book.  As is frequently the case the author frames this particular work by having it be something that is relatable to young people by having the protagonist be assigned to write a diary and grow into the process of being a writer through the practice and guidance of his officers and even to find himself rising through the ranks due to his bravery and humanity.  The author finds himself trying to square the circle of arguing that someone can be good without God by portraying the protagonist as a runaway from overly cruel Christian parents, which demonstrates his own usual biases that he tries to smuggle into the book as a way of indoctrinating young readers, while simultaneously being idealistic enough to help save some blacks by delivering them into Union lines and freedom, which is precisely what one would have expected from someone who was a serious Christian at the time when slavery was falling apart due to the strains of war.

This book is a short one aimed at middle grade readers that looks at the period between the Mine Run campaign and the first part of the Overland campaign from the point of view of a teenager who forged his uncle's signature to join the army as a way of getting food and shelter and found himself being impressed into service as not only a soldier but also as a diarist.  The author doesn't make it clear why the kid is being singled out except for reasons of authorial convenience. The way that the protagonist writes the diary and manage to avoid writing about Gettysburg as well as anything after Spotsylvania.  Perhaps this book, and others like it, suffer a great deal from the problem that there are such strict word count limits on middle grade reading materials and that forces the author to choose a convenient starting point and then to end the book in an epilogue that tries to tie up as many of the loose ends as possible.  In this case we see the protagonist's future as an interesting one involving art and travel and marriage, which would have made for a worthwhile sequel, at least.

Perhaps the best parts of this book are the artistic drawings that are included as well as the maps that break up the text.  If the setup of the novel itself is a little bit problematic given its anti-Christian bias, the book itself is easy enough to enjoy if you don't think too much about it and the author is certainly skilled at writing the perspective of a teen in war who grows up a bit during the course of the book's events.  So long as you don't expect too much from an effort like this and you account for the author's biases, there is a book here that can be enjoyed.  I am not sure if I would appreciate the author's history offerings if they have the same sort of biases of this novel, but the book is transparent enough not to be deceitful at least.  Like many books, this one can only be judged as part of that context, and that context includes the author's own motives and agendas (anti-religious and wanting to create a character that the reader can relate to) as well as the context of the war itself and the series in which this book is a part.

[Edwin Liang · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Civil War, one of the most iconic moments in our nation's history. We probably wouldn’t be here together if it wasn't for the civil war. You have probably heard about the civil war or learned about the civil war, but probably haven’t read a book about the civil war. So after doing some researching, I found a book about the civil war, “The Journal Of James Edmond Pease(Civil War Union Soldier)” by: Jim Murphy. The book will talk about the daily things James Edmond Pease does and how the civil war was one of the most brutal wars in U.S. history.
The main character James Edmond Pease is a sixteen year old orphan who keep a journal and puts down his experience fighting in the civil war because he volunteered to be a soilers. Also the book is taking place in Virginia which was one of the first thirteen states of the United States. James volunteered to fight in war because he always portrayed a soldier and this was because he thought of the soldiers to be strong, fierce, Relentless. When reading this book, you’ll learn that hard work can get you anywhere in life because hard work got James to where he wanted to be because he was a sixteen year old orphan and who no one really knew about, but James worked hard and when he would used to portray a soldier, he wouldn’t need to anymore because he was a soldier now.
I would rate this book out of four and a half out of five because it motivated me even more when I would be doing something because James was an orphan and he worked to get to where he wanted to be which was a soldier. Also the Civil war is one of the biggest moments in our nation's history and if the war went the other way then today would be way different and I cherish that the went the right way because the way life is right now is the way should be because everyone is now granted equal rights.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm pretty surprised at how some of these My Name Is America books tend to be violent and have curse words, especially when targeted for younger kids, but I guess that comes with being a 90's book*. I am also a tad bit disappointed that this particular series is so much shorter than the Dear America, and so covers less events.
That being said, this is still a good series, and there are less repetitions of events than in the Dear America series. There are three in that set in the civil war, but at the same time, that gives you more perspective, since one was a Southerner, one a Northerner and one a freed slave.
So, I would suggest this book in tandem with those, as that gives a pretty broad view of things. This was written very well, and was a very quick read.

*90's books can get away with it, because it was understood that parents told their kids those were bad words and not to use them, and also explained why there was violence and that it was not fun. It makes me ranty when books sugar coat. This one does not, at least not much, which I do appreciate.

[Caroline Fleming · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a great book to give to an interested student in the Civil War but is also more mature when it comes to content due to there being a few explicit words that are written in the book. This book is also a little more difficult to follow due to it being written like an actual journal/diary versus in a more chapter book format. I did enjoy reading this book though. It gave great detail on events that occurred later in the Civil War as well as a more inside perspective on what it was like to be a Union Soldier in the Civil War. It gave a more personal account of how the war affected people who were fighting in it. I would not use this book in my classroom as I feel it is more geared towards middle school and not elementary school students

[Kathryn Mcilwraith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really struggled to get into this story. The descriptions were long and the dialogue was sparse. I enjoy most historical fiction, but I guess I wasn't the target audience for this one.

For parents who are sensitive to language, note that this book uses a crass 3-letter word to refer to the rear-end of a mule once (asking you to fill in the blanks here), and the words "Hell" and "damned" (though not necessarily swear words in certain contexts) are used as swear words in this book a handful of times. Then at the very end (top of page 137), a soldier uses a swear word and an offensive, derogatory term towards an enslaved family who is walking to freedom. Thankfully, the protagonist replies, "These are my friends… You will treat them with respect."

[Kelly Wickham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a true story but is based on the research did reading the true journals of many Civil War soldiers. Jecel and I read this book together and it was very intriguing. It was obviously a brutal experience to be a soldier in the Civil War. I found it interesting to learn that it was a very popular pastime for soldiers to keep a journal and they also wrote a lot of letters. This story is about a young orphan that enrolls in the Union army and unintentionally works himself up through the ranks just by being a dedicated, kind person and staying alive one way or another. Both Jecel and I enjoyed reading about the travails and triumphs of James.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good entry in this series. Probably one of the best in the series that I've read. There was a fascinating turn of events, and James a relatable and likable hero. I was a little annoyed at the beginning with the deliberate misspellings, but it didn't continue, so it wasn't a major detractor in my overall read of the book. Other characters in the book were also super fascinating as well.

I recommend to young readers, fans of historical fiction, or those just looking for an easy read.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Enemy Soil: the Journal of James Edmond Pease, A Civil War Solider, Virginia 1863 is educational account of what a young 16 yr old boy although scared stood strong in the face of uncertain and painful times.

As Civil War is a passion of mine to learn about and read of, I especially recommend this to the younger crowd as it was ment fir about 10 to 13 years old. Even so it is educational and good read for all.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly good book, despite the length of time it took me to read. I've never been one for Civil War fiction or non-fiction, so wasn't expecting to like this tale. Jim Murphy gave the fictional Sgt James Edmond Pease a likeable, real-life quality, and kept the journal entries interesting, informative, and quick-paced. I also liked the true tidbits and photos after the story was completed. This is a great read for people aged 10+ ... even adults like myself.

[Rebecca Lien · Rating 3 out of 5]

James is a plain boy with a good heart which makes for a bland read without a lot of action but it had some redeeming qualities in the historical accuracy of the book. I had a hard time finishing the book and it was a bit simple.

Tarot CArd- Knave of Wands- Passion that may run dry or be spent quickly. -Ann Stokes

https://beckodagecko.wixsite.com/mysite

[Shanice Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me insight as to what those brave men went through during the Civil War. I appreciate them even more after reading this book. I couldn't imagine being 16 and having to endure so much.

[Anthony Bustos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this book a dozen times throughout my childhood and will pick it up as a quick half an hour read as an adult because of my fond memories with it. It’s very well written and it really brought the civil war to life for me as a kid.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favourite part was the freaking spy-level badassness of a slave character as she runs rings around her 'masters' and tricked the hell out of them.