Book review
Girl in Blue 06/21
Sarah is 16 young girl living in the civil war era 1860 Michigan. She hunted for her family and was a good shot with her father’s Winchester she named fanny. Sarah’s abusive father attempted to arrange her marriage to a man she described as a bear to help on the farm. This was not going to fly for Sarah, so she convinced her mother to send her to an aunt to take up her trade. What Sarah did not say was that she was going to join the Michigan 2nd infantry and ended up in the civil war. She was a Private and marched to Washington DC, working in a hospital helping Dr. Hammond until she fought in the battle of bull run, survived and made it back to unknowingly face promotion. Before that promotion came up, she was asked to go on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines to get morphine and medical supplies. She ended up getting shot at by the woman meant to help her, so she tied the women’s arms around her waist and forced her to ride to Washington DC with her. Little did she know that was how she would be discovered as a woman. Instead of facing jail time her commanding officer found a way to get one of his best soldiers into a different form of service to her country. Sarah became a spy. She was to work as a maid for a woman who was known to have been the reason for the loss and bull run. Sarah’s job was to find out how rose was sending messages despite being watched and to find her journal.
I would suggest this book to young ladies learning civil war history and how women contributed to the war effort of the Union, especially to gals who love to shoot, work, fight and rough play. This book encourages young ladies to settle for less and not let others determine where they stand.
In a history class, particular in the American Civil War, I’d have them read the book and have the students read about the real Sarah and other influential women of the era. After reading and studying, they’d write a paper on the book and then make a presentation on an influential woman or female character in Civil War History/Literature.
Warnings:
Emotional sexual stimulation
Battles and conflicts
- Goodreads rating – 3.87
- REVIEW – Jared Gordy