Gentle Annie: The True Story of a Civil War Nurse

by Mary Francis Shura

A fictionalized biography of Anna Blair Ethridge, a Union Army nurse.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Civil War, Young Adult, Historical, Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1994

About the author

Mary Francis Young was born on 23 February 1923 in Pratt, Kansas, the daughter of Jack Fant and Mary Francis (Milstead) Young. When she was very young, her family moved to the Pacific Northwest, where she raised. She studied at Maryville State College. On 24 October 1943, she married Daniel Charles Shura, who died in 1959. They had two children: Marianne Francis Shura (Spraguc) and Daniel Charles Shura. On 8 December 1961, she married Raymond C. Craig, they had a daughter Alice Barrett Craig (Stout), before their divorce.

Since 1960, she wrote over 50 books of various genres: children's adventures and teen-romances as Mary Francis Shura, M. F. Craig, and Meredith Hill; gothic novels as Mary Craig; romance novels as Alexis Hill, Mary Shura Craig and Mary S. Craig; and suspense novels as M. S. Craig.

Her children's novel "The Search for Grissi" received the Carl Sandburg Literary Arts Award in 1985, and she also was nominated to the Young Hoosier Book Award. In 1990, she was elected president of the Mystery Writers of America.

She lived in Hinsdale, Illinois, where her apartment burned on 13 December 1990. At 67, she died of injuries suffered in the fire on 12 January 1991 in Loyola University Medical Burn Center in Maywood.

Reviews

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have adored this book as a young girl. I still enjoyed it quite a bit, but I'm a stickler for historically accurate conversations and manners...so saying that a boy and girl were "gaga" over each other, and a few other things, drove me a little crazy! 🤣

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of the Civil-War-craze books. I first read this when I was about ten, and despite being a careful reader, I think I nearly read the cover clear off of it. I used to play-act being Annie. This was, of course, in the days before I realized that I have a nasty habit of fainting at the sight of blood!

[Patrick Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Response: I enjoyed Gentle Annie because it combined history and entertainment so that more people would read it. The book is written well and has many good plot points. I like the way that the book is based on real events yet had enough fiction to keep the reader wanting to read more. I especially enjoy that the book is based on an actual person, and when I did my own research on Anna Blair Etheridge, I found out that a lot of the facts in the book are historically accurate.

Plot Summary: The book starts with Annie growing up on a farm in Michigan. Fast forward eight years and Annie volunteers herself for the Union. The author shows walkthroughs of battles and how Annie conquer her fears and for her to stay involved by helping the soldiers in the Civil War. Annie became captured by Southern soldiers and is forced to help Southern troops whilst she is captured. Something that surprised me is how Annie would go into great lengths to write letters to the families of dead and/or injured soldiers and provide news for them to be aware of their family's health. She learns a lot about medicine and the application’s to keep soldiers alive. Annie genuinely cares for her patients and goes into hysterics whenever a patient died. Eventually, the Civil War ends and Annie goes back home.

Characterization:

Annie: Annie is a kind person to each and every person she meets. She changes by the fact that she was queasy at the start of the book at the sight of blood. Annie is constantly reminded by the thoughts of all the people she could not save. She did all that she could to help the soldiers during to Civil War even to go as by the medical supplies on her own salary from nursing them. She becomes a lot more mature at the end of the book, but not in a way that she would have prefered seeing the horrors of war.

Sophie: Their is not a lot of time that we get to see Sophie. The readers only get to read about her for the first and last chapter, but she does change a lot. She still considers herself to be Annie’s greatest friend. Despite the fact that she is still mad that Annie left to go to war without telling her, Sophie forgives her. She helps Annie cope with all the people that Annie could not save. She tries to get Annie to realize that she is a hero.

Impacts of Setting: The setting in the first part and the last part is a small farm and town. A peaceful vibe through and through. The time is early upset between the North and South and the book ends during the Reconstruction Era. Gentle Annie many times, most of the book, took place in military hospitals just behind the front lines. Being close to the front lines added a lot of stress to Annie and every other person. The Civil War caused each and every person to be on edge as they were close to the fighting.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to people who enjoy history. Doesn´t matter the gender of the said individual, but female readers would probably find this book more interesting. You have to enjoy history somewhat because the book does become, at certain points, what some people would consider boring. I would suggest the age to be between ages 8-16 as the book is an enjoyable read, but has a lot of history contained within.

[Alana Gustafson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gentle Annie by Mary Francis is a great book. It has a lot of action and I love how Annie travels around and see's things I never would have imagined. Annie seemed like a very interesting and lovely girl.

I think that Annie should have met a wonderful soldier that she met. I think that would have made it more romantic and interesting, but I still loved the book. This book made me happy and sad and a lot of other emotions. I love when books have emotions because that makes a great book.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this is written for a younger audience, but if it's well written, it's well written and this is well written. Culled from newspaper articles and personal recollections, the story of Gentle Annie, is beautifully crafted, it moves, and is moving. A lovely little biography of an extraordinary young woman.

[Allison Tebo · Rating 2 out of 5]

RTC

[Anyce Paul-Emile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this was a touching story of this young women who wanted to help the sick and wounded after she lost so much. This story does have a theme of, do what is write, not what you want.

[Joy Michelle Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle Annie: The True Story of a Civil War Nurse was published when I was ten years old and I read my copy of this book so many times that the cover was literally falling off by the time I donated it to the local library. I fantasized that I was Anna Blair Ethridge and before I realized just how many sciences medical practitioners require at college, I thought that I might one day be a doctor or nurse saving lives like Anna/Annie.

We all need heroes. Heroes fuel us and inspire us. That’s why Marvel’s team of Avengers are so well loved. But what better than a real life heroine who might otherwise be relegated to a footnote here or there in a time when the heroism of the male white soldier was the focal point? A heroine who was selfless, caring, compassionate, good, and loyal.

Fans of history who are looking for a female heroine to read about will love the story of Gentle Annie as I did when I was in 5th and 6th grade.

Full Review at The Joyous Living.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently reread this book that I have read many times as a “tween.” It’s the story of an amazing, strong willed girl named Annie Ethridge and her work on the front lines during the civil war. Her true passion was nursing and being on the front lines with the men, however, she did whatever was asked of her including laundry, mending, cooking, and writing letters home for the soldiers. Very unheard of for a women in the later 1800s. She was a very inspiring young girl who gave her all to the men of the civil war. Many times she slept standing up in order to make more floor space for the wounded. She received awards during her service and befriended generals. Still loving this book after a lot of years!

[Hanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really nice read! It was a combination of historical fiction and biography, about a Civil War nurse. Annie is written very personably and there are a lot of anecdotes about her life and the work she did. Overall, I did enjoy reading it, but that may be because I enjoy reading about historical figures, specifically in wars, to begin with.

In some places it did feel a bit like reading a list of facts, but that made the retelling of the story more historically accurate in my opinion. There were sections that were really touching and sweet, and overall Annie's perspective was really well done.

I would recommend to people who are interested in history.

[Hannah :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book my friend gave me, and now we exchange books frequently at church! This book was a pretty easy read, and actually quite educational. I remembered some history about the Civil War I learned in 8th grade, and lined it up with what this book said. It gave me a different perspective on the war, for sure, and showed me the gruesome, terrifying, horrible parts that I hadn't thought of before. Annie was very brave and stayed calm under pressure. She was selfless, and put herself in harm's way in order to help others. It was a good historic fiction book, that I wouldn't have read otherwise!

[Rebekah Haas · Rating 4 out of 5]

"She laughed because otherwise she would have cried. She had promised herself no one would see her do that."

The story of a young civil war nurse, Gentle Annie tells us the true story of Anna Etheridge.

It was really, really good for a while. Captivating, interesting, well written hist. fic... that is, until the end. I feel the book tried to summarize too much too quickly.

Overall, though, well told, well written.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different take on Civil War nursing stories. Annie was portrayed as being stubborn and challenging orders, but her reactions to grief felt realistic. Having previously read Nurse and Spy in the Union Army, I don’t know if I believe that she would have learned the truth about Frank Thompson when or how she does in the story.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie was a brave, young woman who joined the Union Army as a nurse. She faced many dangerous battles since she was determined to rescue as many of the wounded soldiers as she could. She became renowned for gentleness and courage. This is a fictional account of a true woman who served in the American Civil War. It is historically accurate.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of this being a youth book and a fictionalized account of a teenage Civil War nurse's true experience, it somehow touched my heart more than any other history or biography that I've read about those harrowing times. I highly recommend this book.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A read aloud to my children. They rate it 5 stars. I loved the history. It was not too gory for them but still gave them a true picture of the horrors of war. It makes me want to study up on the Civil War more. (Even though I've been to Gettysburg more times than I can remember.)

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book combines historical fact with fiction to create a story that older elementary as well as older readers will enjoy. Anna B. Etheridge enlisted in the Army, prepared to sew and cook, but hoping to be a nurse. Annie helped nurse soldiers who quickly grew to love her gentle ways.

[Aria Nazari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed reading this historical fiction on Annie (Anna) Etheridge. It was a quick read, and while it is written for a much younger audience, there was still plenty of action to keep me engaged. I did not know this woman before reading this story, but I am glad to know of her now.

[Manna_Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

As to be expected for a book about a Civil War nurse, it's a lot of sad and rather gruesome. An ok story overall. Interesting facts about the Civil War I hadn't read before. My kid gave this a pass for the gruesomeness. She tried, but it was too much on a few descriptions.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read, sad but hopeful.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me cry. Perhaps I’ll write a full review at some point, but for now...

[Liana A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it I recommend it to anyone cause it's so good

[P]

I read and re read this so many times when I was younger.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to take the reader on a voyage backstage of the Civil War, where it showed the life of women (or a certain woman) and what they went through during this ugly time in US history. Anna Blair Etheridge was 1 out of 18 to join as a battlefield nurse, however, when the going got tough, she was amazingly the only female to stay and perform what she knew best. The story walks through actual battles and how Anna (Annie) had to join the men (on both sides) and conquer her fears to stay involved helping the soldiers in the Civil War.

Something that stuck out in my eyes was how Annie would go into great depths to write letters to the families of dead and/or injured soldiers and provide news for them to be aware of their son’s health.
Many have learned about the Civil War and the ugliness it entailed, however, this book opened my eyes in a new direction and I am sure would do so for most readers.

In today’s current world, we still find ourselves talking about women on the front lines and the where-a-bouts when we disect moral and rights. This book shows that women have been walking this front line for some time now.

I would definitely use this book in a middle school (7th grade) classroom. It was a very quick and easy read and gave the reader a strong picture to paint in their mind as they turned the pages.

[Sand Josieph Haasmaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

While lacking in some historical details I personally enjoyed reading this book when I was younger.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this several times when I was ten/eleven/twelve and found the story well told and interesting. I learned some history from it, and was impressed by Annie's heroism and selfless service, as well as those she worked with. I think I may have kept going back to it, though, because I found the ending unsatisfactory. I still felt lost and restless, like Annie could never have real peace and a place of her own again.
The characters are well portrayed, the battles and storyline are clear and easy to follow, and Annie's emotions and decisions are relateable. I appreciated the humanness of it all. The story inspired me to do more research on the Civil War and the people involved in it.

[Shannon Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical novel about a Civil War nurse made me sob. Truly it did. It brought the solders' deaths to a personal level through the eyes of Annie, a nurse during the civil war who went into the battlefield with the soldiers. In fact, it brought the entire Civil War to a personal level for me.

I have never been a big fan of history-reading and memorizing dry facts that didn't mean anything to me. It's so different when reading a historical fiction book-I feel like I know these people and can feel their anguish and pain.

This is a must read for anyone interested in the Civil War-or for anyone not interested! :)

[Kiersten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was probably around twelve years old. I still have the old worn copy of the book on my bookshelf. I really enjoyed the book. Even though I come from a family who had relatives fight in the Confederate army and the main character is a Union nurse, I still felt like she is a character who would stick with me. She helped so many soldiers no matter what side they were on. She was so caring and stayed when all the other nurses left. I love to pick up this book and read it from time to time.

[Keri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great for middle grade readers who want a quick, easy lesson in Civil War history and important figures like Annie Etheridge. However, for older readers the story lacked the detailed history and emotional depth and plot that other historical novels (especially those by an author like Ann Rinaldi) demonstrate so well.