The unforgettable story of young Jethro Creighton who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War.

"This is a beautifully written book, filled with bloodshed, hate, and tears, but also with love, loyalty, and compassion, with unforgettable characters, and with ideas and implications that have meaning for young people today." --Chicago Tribune

". . . An intriguing and beautifully written book, a prize to those who take the time to read it, whatever their ages." --The New York Times

"An impressive book both as a historically authenticated Civil War Novel and as a beautifully written family story. . . . The realistic treatment of the intricate emotional conflicts within a border-state family is superb. The details of battles and campaigns are deftly integrated into letters and conversations, and the characters are completely convincing." --Univ of Chicago Center for Children's Books