Shades of Gray

Bibliographic information: 

Reeder, Carolyn.  Shades of Gray.  Avon Books, 1989, p. 165.

Brief plot description:

Shades of Gray is about a boy named Will Page who lives in Virginia during the Civil War.  His family supports the Confederacy.  Will’s family faces some hardships that send Will to live with his aunt’s family.  He takes three very important things with him including the family Bible.  Her family has decided to stay out of the war which doesn’t make Will happy and doesn’t have much money.  While living with his aunt, Will has to pull his own weight with the upkeep of the house including checking the trap lines.  The town does not believe that Uncle Jed was right about not fighting, but they ask him to help fix the mill.  Finally Will realizes that he respects his Uncle even if he hadn’t fought.  What happens when a Yank comes to the house?  Will Will find a place with his aunt’s family?

Brief review:

I really liked this story because it tells of a family’s difficult time after the Civil War.  It also shows how a boy can realize the true meaning of the Civil War was fighting for what one believed in and that not fighting was not wrong.  This is the main idea that students should get out of this book.  They should also get that everyone suffered from the Civil War.  Shades of Gray can be used in fifth through seventh grades.  I would use it when talking about the Civil War or any other war.  I really liked this story because I am interested in learning about the Civil War, and how it affected the families of both sides.    

Genre label:

Historical Fiction

Reading level/interest level:

5^th -7^th grade

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

A Ballad of the Civil War by Mary Stolz

The Journal of Rufus Rowe: A Witness to the Battle of Fredericksburg: Bowling Green, Virginia, 1862 by Sid Hite

Sound of Jubilee by Sandra Forrester

Silent Thunder: A Civil War Story by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Subjects/themes:

Civil War

Family

Awards:

ALA Notable Children’s Book

Scott O’Dell Award

Bank Street Children’s Book Award

IRA Young Adults’ Choices

Character names/descriptions:

Will Page

Father

Mom

Brother

Sister

Sister

Fred - Will’s family slave

Lizzy- Will’s family slave

Callie- Will’s family slave

Aunt Ella

Uncle Jed

Meg- cousin

Beth- cousin

Sam- cousin

Enos- cousin

The River Between Us

Bibliographic information: 
Peck, Richard.  The River Between Us.  Scholastic Inc, 2003, p. 164.

Brief plot description:
The River Between Us starts out with a look at 1916.  The reader is introduced to Howard Leland Hutchings who is traveling with his father and two twin brothers.  The family is headed for Grand Tower, Illinois to see some family members.  The story then goes back in time to 1861 and the time of the Civil War.  The main characters are Cass, Tilly, Noah, and Mama, the Pruitt’s.  Tilly’s dad is a river man who has not come home for some time.  The town that they live in is in the midst of the Civil War because it sits on the Mississippi River.  Some special guests arrive in town, Delphine Duval who is well dressed and Calinda a black girl.  The Battle of Bull Run leads the town to join the side of the Yankees.  Will Noah decide to join the fight?  Who really are Delphine and Calinda?

Brief review:

This story is set-up in a different way than most stories.  It begins in the present and then goes to the past and then back to the present.  The book ends with A Note on the Story where the author tells the reader about how he got his information.  Throughout the story there are signs of Southern Illinois dialect, for example, et and Paw.  Since Delphine is from New Orleans there is a great deal of French spoken.  Illinois students would enjoy reading this book because there are several cities mentioned that they have probably heard of including Cairo and Quincy.  In the book are also some songs of the time.  This could be used when talking about the Civil War, the effect of war on families, the effect of racism on society, or different dialects/languages. 

Genre label:

Historical Fiction

Reading level/interest level: 
Sixth through Eighth grade; some concepts may need to be discussed

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Girl in Blue by Ann Rinaldi

A Ballad of the Civil War by Mary Stolz and illustrated by Sergio Martinez

           

Subjects/themes:

Civil War, history, mystery, racism, family

Awards:

Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
National Book Award: Finalist

ALA Notable Book

ALA Best Book for Young Adults

Riverbank Review Children’s Books of Distinction

Booklist Editor’s Choice

NYPL’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

IRA Book Award

Book Sense 76 Top Ten Selection

Parents’ Choice Award

Glogster Poster: http://jencampbell12.glogster.com/riverbetweenus-9995/