Review of 'Plantation Nation' by Mercedes King

About the book:

Historical Fiction
Date Published: May 27, 2014

Sixteen year old Emma Cartwright runs away from her family’s South Carolina rice plantation after a slave is beaten to death. Determined to join the fight against slavery, Emma enlists in the Union Army disguised as a young man. Nothing could prepare her for the sacrifices needed—and for falling in love for the first time.

Read an excerpt:

Washington, D.C.

May, 1861

Overdressed in Quinn’s old, ill-fitting clothes and with linen strips squeezed around her breasts Emma stepped off a train that arrived in the capital city on a sunny afternoon and never felt more awkward. Every time someone’s gaze rested on her, she feared her disguise was a failure. Eye contact made her queasy, so she did her best to keep her head down as she headed into the city’s busy streets. But the horde of people bustling around Emma increased her nervousness and made her question her hasty decision.

Before Emma had left the plantation, she had taken a handsome amount of money from the family money chest. Knox would be furious, she knew, but Emma viewed the sum as a partial inheritance rather than a stolen booty. She had also agreed with Stuart that she should be the one to inform her mother and grandfather about what she had done. She did, in a letter she mailed from a train depot in South Carolina. However, she decided to leave out key points, including her intention to assume a new identity and join the Yankees. She kept it simple and said she had to run away since Sylvia was gone and Vaughn did not suit her.

Now, armed with a satchel full of items from home, she weaved through the streets of Washington searching for the recruiting office. Fellow passers-by had misdirected her, so she gave up on civilians and found a gentleman dressed in a navy-blue coat with brass buttons and a hat that appeared to sag above the forehead. A Union soldier.

“Pardon me, sir,” Emma said with her new voice. “Could you please direct me to the recruiting headquarters?”

The man looked her over. “Little on the spry side, ain’t ’cha, son?”

“No, sir.” Emma straightened herself, though she felt terribly self-conscious in Quinn’s trousers. “I’m old enough to contribute to the cause.”

“Meybe, but if I’s you, son, I’d stick to helpin’ out your ma at home.”

“Ain’t got no home.” The realization of the truth in her words made her eyes watery. She quickly rubbed away the evidence of her emotions and wanted to curse herself for seeming weak and vulnerable in front of the first person she had spoken to. How would she convince a camp full of soldiers that she was a man if simple facts from her life brought tears?

But the man flashed a half-grin. “Head north about a quarter of a mile. You’ll see a sign pointin’ you to the office.”

Emma thanked him and went on her way with the man’s well wishes.

****

Before entering the recruiting office, Emma girded herself for a lot of lying. Several men passed in and out of the building before Emma made up her mind to go in. Could she sign away her life to the volunteer army? Could she live among Yankees? What would be the cost if she were found out?

Emma shook her head and chided her thoughts. She refused to listen to cowardly notions. Instead, she thought of Stuart, who didn’t have the option of being there. With a deep breath, she righted herself and took her place inside at the end of the line. A stench of body odor greeted her and did nothing to settle her quivering stomach and trembling legs.

**My thoughts**

The story of a girl disguising herself as a man to enter the army to fight for what she believes in is not a new one. It has been done time and time again. This one, for me, was a different story. This one is about a Southern girl who is against slavery, so she goes to the North to fight. Instead of regularly seeing combat, she is placed in the hospital, which probably better fits her disposition and skills. Emma learns a lot about herself and her true beliefs as the conflict evolves around her. She discovers the harsh truth about why people are really fighting. She learns how to find an inner strength she doesn't know that she had. Her faith in both God and people is tested time and time again.

What I really liked about this book is how the author wove in the historical facts, without skipping a beat in her story telling. I have long been a fan of the Civil War, but don't have all of my facts memorized anymore. I felt like it was a pretty accurate portrayal of what really happened back then. 

I enjoyed the story, itself. For the most part, it felt believable. Sometimes I had a question as to how little things could have really happened, but it wasn't so burning that I couldn't continue to read the book. It's an historical fiction that is interesting and worth reading. I think that even though it is written in the young adult genre, older elementary and middle grade readers could also enjoy it, as it isn't overly graphic. Of course, it is interesting for adults, as well.

Buy link

Amazon \ Barnes & Noble

About the author:

Mercedes King is an Ohio native and founding member of Sisters in Crime Columbus, Ohio (affectionately dubbed SiCCO). With a degree in Criminology from Capital University and a passion for writing, she crafted O! Jackie, a novel focusing on the private life of Jackie Kennedy. She has also written The Kennedy Chronicles, a series of short stories featuring JFK and Jackie before they were married and before 'Camelot'. Mercedes writes in a variety of genres, including historical and mystery / suspense. In fact, she's working on creating a new genre, 'modern historical'.

Her newest release, Plantation Nation, follows the journey of Emma Cartwright, a 16 year old Southern girl who disguises herself as a young man and joins the Union Army.

Visit her sites, OJackiebook.com or Mercedesking.com . Contact her at Mercedes 'at' ojackiebook 'dot' com. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Website: www.mercedesking.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mercedes.king.1806

Twitter: @Mercedes_King_

Blog: http://mercedeskingblog.blogspot.com

Instagram: mercedes_king_author

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Review of 'Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the Battle of Gettysburg' by Tanya Anderson

Description

Imagine being fifteen years old, facing the bloodiest battle ever to take place on U.S. soil: the Battle of Gettysburg. In July 1863, this is exactly what happened to Tillie Pierce, a normal teenager who became an unlikely heroine of the Civil War (1861-1865). Tillie and other women and girls like her found themselves trapped during this critical three-day battle in southern Pennsylvania. Without training, but with enormous courage and compassion, Tillie and other Gettysburg citizens helped save the lives of countless wounded Union and Confederate soldiers. 
In gripping prose, Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the of Battle Gettysburg takes readers behind the scenes. And through Tillie’s own words, the story of one of the Civil War’s most famous battles comes alive.


**My thoughts**

What I loved about this book... I love the real photographs. The Civil War was the first major event that was photographed, thanks in part to Matthew Brady. It was the first time that we saw a true picture of the devastation of war. The Civil War has always felt the most real to me because of that. These pictures are amazing.

I love that Tillie's real words are used throughout the book. Tanya explains the history and then uses Tillie's comments to further illustrate what she is saying. Real eyewitness accounts are significantly more powerful than someone else's interpretations. The fact that these are the observations of a teenager should speak to younger readers, as Tillie is more of one of their peers telling the story. I have visited Gettysburg and have tried to imagine what it was like. Reading her descriptions and feelings, in conjunction with the pictures, brings it more to life as a real event.

I do wish that more of Tillie's words would have been in the book. I think I need to actually find her book and read it to fulfill that desire, though. When I originally read the description, I thought it was going to mostly be Tillie, with a little commentary thrown in. Instead, it was the other way around.

Another aspect of this book that I appreciated was the section at the end that gives follow-up activities and further reading and research that kids can do.

With the amount of reading in this 100-page book and the language used, I would recommend it for middle grades and above. Adults looking for a quick read about the Civil War may also enjoy it.   

Buy links: Amazon \ Lerner Publishing

I received a review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions. 

Get to know author Tanya Anderson: Blog | Website | Facebook