Like a River: A Civil War Novel

by Kathy Cannon Wiechman

Overview

Winner of the Grateful American Book Prize

This moving story of two young Union soldiers “joins other great middle grade novels about the Civil War”—an “excellent” read “for all fans of historical fiction who enjoy a hint of romance.” (School Library Journal)

Leander and Polly are two teenage Union soldiers who carry deep, dangerous secrets . . . Leander is underage when he enlists; Polly follows her father into war, disguised as his son. Soon, the war proves life changing for both as they survive incredible odds. Leander struggles to be accepted as a man and loses his arm. Polly mourns the death of her father, endures Andersonville Prison, and narrowly escapes the Sultana steamboat disaster. As the lives of these young, brave soldiers intersect, each finds a wealth of courage and learns about the importance of loyalty, family, and love.
 
Like a River is a lyrical atmospheric first novel told in two voices. Readers will be transported to the homes, waterways, camps, hospitals, and prisons of the Civil–War era. They will also see themselves in the universal themes of dealing with parents, friendships, bullying, failure, and young love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629790619
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	04/01/2012
Series:	Puzzlemania DoodleRama Series
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kathy Cannon Wiechman traveled to Ohio, West Virginia, Georgia (the site of Andersonville Prison), Virginia, Tennessee, and Mississippi to research and write Like a River. She also attended several Civil War reenactments and learned to load and fire a muzzleloader. This is her debut novel. She lives in Cincinnati with her family not far from the Ohio River.

Editorial Reviews

02/09/2015
Wiechman debuts with a grim Civil War story about two underage Union soldiers, Leander Johnson and Paul Settles. When Leander’s older brother suffers an accident that leaves him without the use of his legs, Leander enlists in his place. Soon severely wounded—through his own clumsiness—he is taken to a makeshift Georgia hospital, where he meets Paul, whose father is dying there. The two become friends, growing closer when Leander discovers an important secret of Paul’s. With Leander stronger and headed home, Paul’s story, in which he is captured and sent to Camp Sumter, takes over. Wiechman delivers a realistic portrayal of the gritty details of prison camp conditions as Paul witnesses many soldiers succumb to infected wounds, disease, and malnutrition. Just as the worst seems to be over, the explosion of the Sultana steamboat takes nearly 1,800 lives, most of them prisoners finally going home, and causes Paul to fight for his life like never before. An extensive author’s note provides historical background, including several period photos. Horrific moments land in quick succession, but the book has strong merit as accurate historical fiction. Ages 9–up. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

★ “Wiechman’s abundant research is unobtrusively folded into the tale. An excellent author’s note provides further information about the times. Though the horrors of Andersonville and various Civil War-era events such as the Battle of Atlanta, Lincoln’s assassination and the explosion of the steamboat Sultana provide wartime context, it’s the secrets woven into the well-paced tale that will pull readers eagerly to the tearful conclusion. A superb Civil War tale of friendship, loyalty and what it means to be a man.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Wiechman delivers a realistic portrayal of the gritty details of prison camp conditions as Paul witnesses many soldiers succumb to infected wounds, disease, and malnutrition . . . The book has strong merit as accurate historical fiction.” —Publishers Weekly

“The rich language and artful imagery will stay with readers long after finishing the last page . . . This joins other great middle grade novels about the Civil War . . . A truly excellent first purchase for all fans of historical fiction who enjoy a hint of romance.” —School Library Journal

“A war story, a thriller, a romance . . . Meticulously researched and brilliantly written, Like a River will transport you into a story you won’t want to end. Call Like a River unforgettable. A stunning debut!” —Jerry Spinelli, Newbery Medalist for Maniac Magee
 
“Brings to light and life a little-known slice of the Civil War. It’s an unflinching look at a rough and bloody time, but . . . love and hope flow throughout. I will be thinking about Leander and his comrades for a long time to come.” —Kirby Larson, Newbery Honor Medalist for Hattie Big Sky

From the Publisher

01/01/2015
Gr 5–8—Three years have passed since the beginning of the Civil War, when two underage teens, West Virginian Paul Settles and Ohioan Leander Jordan, both with secrets to guard, enlist in the Union Army. Their paths cross in a military hospital, where their mysteries begin to unravel, but the plot takes them in separate directions. Wiechman's debut novel details the pecking order of the Army camps, the grim hospitals, and survival in the prison. The plot is presented in short chapters, with an array of compassionate characters. American waterways comprise settings, as well as the motif for the theme of change: ("'Like a river,' Polly said. 'My pap al'ys said folks is like rivers, ever a-changin' and ever a-changin' others.'") The rich language and artful imagery will stay with readers long after finishing the last page. Well-researched details of Andersonville Prison and the Sultana Explosion are supported by an author's note with photos and a bibliography. This joins other great middle grade novels about the Civil War including Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulson (Delacorte, 1998), The Mostly True Adventure of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick (Scholastic, 2009), and the YA novel A Soldier's Secret: The Incredible True Story of Sarah Edmonds by Marissa Moss (Abrams, 2012). A truly excellent first purchase for all fans of historical fiction who enjoy a hint of romance.—Sharon M. Lawler, formerly of Randolph Elementary, Randolph AFB, TX

School Library Journal

★ 2015-01-10
The stories of three teens intersect in the later years of the Civil War in this debut novel. Fifteen-year-old Leander Jordan runs off to war from Ohio to prove he's a man. "Working in the foundry wasn't something to admire, not like being a soldier in uniform, a soldier who'd risk his life facing enemy guns. Pa had to see he was doing a manly thing." But he lands in a Southern hospital, where he befriends Paul Settles, another young Union soldier, who tends to his wounds. When they're separated, Paul ends up in hellish Andersonville Prison, where smallpox, scurvy and hunger plague the prisoners. There, Paul's friendship with Given McGlade, a fellow prisoner and Leander's neighbor from back home, helps keep them both alive. Though the prose is a bit florid early on, the stories are effectively related in twinned third-person narrative, and Wiechman's abundant research is unobtrusively folded into the tale. An excellent author's note provides further information about the times. Though the horrors of Andersonville and various Civil War-era events such as the Battle of Atlanta, Lincoln's assassination and the explosion of the steamboat Sultana provide wartime context, it's the secrets woven into the well-paced tale that will pull readers eagerly to the tearful conclusion. A superb Civil War tale of friendship, loyalty and what it means to be a man. (bibliography) (Historical fiction. 9-14)

Kirkus Reviews