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Jun 03, 2019kwylie04 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
While so often historical fiction about the American Civil War focuses on the soldiers who fought, the battles that destroyed, and the overall conflict that raised the question "can a nation [...] conceived in liberty [...] long endure?", occasionally you run across a book that shifts the focus elsewhere, namely, to those who were left at home to do their best to carry on with life in the midst of overwhelming fear and tragedy. Across Five Aprils is one such piece, and it is outstanding. Meet Jethro, the single remaining son left at home when his four older brothers leave to join in the fighting that has erupted between the Northern and Southern states - three choosing to stand for the Union, while the fourth believes that righteousness is on the side of the South and thus joins the Confederacy. Full of moments that are both heartwarming and heartbreaking, this book will give you a picture of this nation's darkest hours from a perspective not often seen - through the eyes of a child.