I read recently in a book about textbook publishing and censorship in the
use of teaching materials that there are two types of books published for
children and young adults. The author of the book, Diane Ravitch, makes the
distinction between “mirror” books that reflect back to the reader images of
themselves and “window” books that give to the young reader access to other
worlds and times and cultures. Many books written about teen problems and
teen issues are mirror books. She also argues that “good” literature tends
to be of the window variety. I personally think both have their places in
the reading lives of children but I did find that to be a very interesting
distinction since the YA books that I as an adult enjoy tend to be of the
window variety while the mirror variety bores me to tears.

With that in mind, I would class this as a window book. It is the story of 9
year old Jethro Creighton who, in 1861, watches his family disintegrate
because of the coming of the Civil War. The Creighton’s live in southern
Illinois where the feelings pro and con for the secession of the south are
mixed in the community. And one brother goes to fight for the South and the
other goes to fight for the North. For the next 4 years Jethro watches as
his family struggle to maintain their place in the community—a brother off
to fight the North is not a good thing for them—and to maintain their farm
in the face of other family crisis. His father has a heart attack and Jethro
becomes the backbone of the farm. A vigilante group sets their barn on fire
and neighbors that had previously been antagonistic pitch in to help rebuild
and restock their farm.

It’s an interesting meditation on community and standing up for what you
believe and loyalty in the face of hostile opinions. It’s also a great way
to get a little history into a kid since the events of the Civil War from
Fort Sumter to Appomattox are a part of Jethro life and the economic issues,
aside from slavery, that led up to the war are talked about in the family.
It’s a real life story about a believable kid in an awful time and I could
find all sorts of complicated ethical dilemmas to discuss within the context
of the book. I enjoyed the writing as well. She has a knack for making
images and situations believable without overwriting them that I
appreciated. Good book!