The Brothers' War: Civil War Voices in Verse

by J. Patrick Lewis Narrated by Tom Stechschulte

Overview

In compelling poetry, the spirit of Frederick Douglas, John Brown, and William Tecumseh Sherman comes alive. So does the heart-rending tale of a Confederate son and Union father, the desperate struggle of boys fighting like men, the horrifying shrieks of the wounded, and the pitiful plight of a toil-weary slave. One poetic letter finds distraught parents aching for a son who hasn't been heard from in months. While another spotlights a wounded lad languishing in a POW camp, determined to survive his living nightmare. The poems of National Children's Book Week honoree J. Patrick Lewis-acclaimed author of more than 45 works and frequent book reviewer for the New York Times-have graced the pages of dozens of magazines and more than 70 anthologies. In The Brothers' War, Lewis' vivid word-pictures provide youthful readers with a poignant portrait of the brutal conflict that slaughtered a generation and left millions in despair. "An exemplary work."-Publishers Weekly "This book should be in every middle school, high school, and public library. It is an important addition to the Civil War collection of books."-Children's Literature "This slim volume illustrates for young readers the human pain and anguish caused by the war in a way that most textbooks fail to capture."-VOYA "This book is an excellent choice for a literary component to Civil War units."-Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

This heartrending collection of original poems paired with photographs by Civil War photographers makes real what statistics about war cannot-that the casualties of any war have human faces. Lewis (Monumental Verses) writes poignantly and lyrically: "In the bloody Battle of Seven Pines,/ a young soldier, Absalom Flowers,/ whose mother baked the most delicious cobbler/ in Roanoke, whose father was nothing really,/ stopped a Union bullet with his face" (from "Boys in a Brothers' War"). An elegant design of gold, silver and black handsomely frames the text and the photographs, declaring the importance of the subject and setting a respectful tone. An introduction, detailed photo captions and back matter ground readers in the historical context, while the poems and photos recreate the emotional reality. The poem "Passing in Review," for example, is juxtaposed with a photograph of a soldier amputee who stares into the camera's lens. The poem's narrator comments, "A war churns boys to men./ Remember them/ Today, deceased,/ Young men-at-arms who would increase/ By inches some foothold on peace." Lewis includes supposed accounts by John Brown and Frederick Douglass, letters from soldiers to their families, and a narrative by a runaway slave. An exemplary work. Ages 10-14. (Nov.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up
It is difficult to judge which is more haunting in this volume-Lewis's 11 poems or the historical photographs that illustrate them. The quality and mood of the verses are similar to those found in the author's Freedom Like Sunlight (Creative Co., 2000). Skillfully using a variety of rhyming and rhythmic schemes to reinforce the message of each selection, Lewis honors fictionalized and historical heroes and does not shy away from the horrors of war: "On Widow Henry's fallow fields, I saw/A boy about my age fall where he stood,/Face down, writhing, clutching at mud and straw." The reproductions show slaves, battlefields, soldiers, and the wounded. Although not every image is completely sharp and clear, they are all unique and moving. Each one is accompanied by an interesting and informative paragraph describing the subject. The book has a color scheme of black and brown that unifies the whole and gives it a somber mood. Additional information about the Civil War, the photography, and the author's methods in writing the poems is appended. This book is an excellent choice for a literary component to Civil War units.
—Donna CardonCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

From the Publisher

"So bravely, our mission can not be futile
My hope for our children is a lasting peace,
Though that must seem odd in the midst of a brutal War. Can the seemingly unceasing cease?" —Excerpt from Brothers' War

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171495459
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	01/25/2013
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

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