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From Slave to Soldier: Based on a True Civil War Story
Hopkinson’s two Ready to Read books are works of historical fiction based on actual people and events. Billy and the Rebel tells the story of two boys during the Battle of Gettysburg in the Civil War, one from the North, the other from the South. Thirteen-year-old Billy Bayly was living on a farm not far from Gettysburg when the battle took place. A knock at the door in the middle of the night reveals a frightened Confederate soldier who is just about Billy’s age. Billy and his mother take the young Rebel in. Later, the boy intervenes when a retreating Confederate solider threatens Billy, even though he risks revealing his identity as a deserter in doing so. From Slave to Soldier is based on an incident in the life of John McCline, who, at age eleven, ran away from his master’s home to join a regiment of Union soldiers marching on the road that ran alongside the plantation where he worked. John’s skill at handling mules made him a valuable member of the regiment. Each of these two compelling seven-chapter stories includes a brief author’s note to explain more about their subjects. (Ready-to-Read) ©2005 Cooperative Children's Book Center
Illustrated by Brian Floca
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 6-8
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Easy Reader
Subjects:
19th Century
African Americans
Civil War (US)
Historical Fiction
Slavery
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Publisher:
Atheneum
Publish Year: 2005
Pages: 44
ISBN: 0689839650
CCBC Location: Fiction, Hopkinson