CurriConnects Book List - Civil War
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Civil War
Consider sharing these titles with your students as you study the Civil War. Many of the picture books on this list are excellent for students of all ages. Choose a title for a class novel study or a book club. Share different picture books on the same topic to compare and contrast experiences and points of view. Enjoy making connections to literature throughout the history unit.
Picture Books
Honest Abe Lincoln - David Adler, (978-0823420575), Fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 450
These short stories tell the life of A. Lincoln and his careers as lawyer, politician and President.
Abe's Fish: A Boyhood Tale of Abraham Lincoln - Jen Bryant, (140-2762526), Fiction
Interest level: K-12, Lexile: 580
A. Lincoln shares a fish he has just caught with a soldier instead of bringing it home for his family's dinner.
The Clothesline Code - Janet Halfmann, (978-1951565572), Fiction
Interest level: 6-11
Lucy Ann and Dabney Walker, escaped slaves, created a code using clothes on the clothesline to help pass Confederate secrets to the Union army.
Abraham Lincoln Crosses a Creek - Deborah Hopkinson, (978-0375837685), Fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 600
A. Lincoln gets rescued from a fall into a stream by his best friend in Kentucky during their growing up years.
Cecil's Story - George Ella Lyons, (978-0531059128), Fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 600
Cecil's father leaves home to fight for the Union Army. He gets injured, and Cecil's mother leaves him home while she goes to find him.
The Last Brother - Tina Hakes Noble, (978-1585362530), Fiction
Interest level: 6-9, Lexile: 950
At 11 years old, Gabe is a bugler in the US Army. Gabe has already lost two brothers in the war, so he makes it his mission to watch over his last living brother. During a battle, Gabe meets a bugler from the Confederate side.
Pink and Say - Patricia Polacco, (978-0399226717), Fiction
Interest level: K-12, Lexile: 590
A Union soldier and an African American soldier are captured by the South during the Civil War.
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Civil War Soldier - Thomas Ratliff, (978-0531245033), Non-fiction
Interest level: 8-12, Lexile: 925
Written from the soldier's perspective, this nonfiction book tells about life from both sides of the war.
Middle Grade Books
Ghost Soldier - Elaine Marie Alphin, (978-0805061581), Fiction
Interest level: 4-8, Lexile: 750
Alexander helps a Civil War soldier ghost; he helps the confederate locate his lost family.
Photo by Brady: A Picture of the Civil War - Jennifer Armstrong, (978-0689857850), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-12, Lexile: 1200
Mathew Brady and other photographers chronicled the Civil War soldiers and other images during their travels with the troops.
Iron Thunder - NA Avi, (978-1423105183), Fiction
Interest level: 2-8, Lexile: 620
Teen Tom has to work at the ironworks factory and unintentionally becomes the target of dangerous enemies since he is working on constructing the ironclad Monitor.
With Every Drop of Blood - James Collier, (978-0440219835), Fiction
Interest level: 4-12, Lexile: 820
A young Rebel soldier is captured by a former slave, now a Union soldier.
The Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane, (0812504798), Fiction
Interest level: 3-9, Lexile: 340
Henry, a Union soldier, finds himself unsure about the heroic aspects of the Civil War due to its great violence and the high number of deaths he sees.
My Last Skirt: The Story of Jennie Hodgers, Union Soldier - Lynda Durrant, (9780618574902), Fiction
Interest level: 10-12, Lexile: 760
Jennie Hodgers came to America from Ireland and quickly realized that young men had more
opportunities than young women. She transformed into Albert Cashier, who worked various jobs before enlisting in the 95th Illinois Infantry. She survived the war and lived as Albert for most of her life.
Annie, Between the States - L.M. Elliott, (978-0060012137), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 800
Annie chooses to spend her time helping soldiers and running her Virginia household during the Civil War.
Thunder at Gettysburg - Patricia Gauch, (978-1590781807), Fiction
Interest level: 3-9
A teenage girl finds herself in the middle of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Abner & Me - Dan Gutman, (978-0756979201), Fiction
Interest level: 5-8, Lexile: 680
Joe's time travel adventure gets messed up when he lands in the Battle of Gettysburg rather than at Abner Doubleday's home; he wanted to find out who invented baseball!
Hear the Wind Blow - Mary Downing Hahn, (618-181903), Fiction
Interest level: 4-9, Lexile: 700
A young teen boy and his sister must search for family members on their own after their house burns and their mother dies.
The Civil War for Kids: A History with 21 Activities - Janis Herbert, (9781556523557), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12, Lexile: 875
From the shots at Fort Sumpter to the surrender at Appomattox and from uniforms to medicine, explore the Civil War with 21 embedded activities.
Fields of Fury: The American Civil War - james M. McPherson, (9780689848339), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12, Lexile: 1040
Historical information is entwined with personal anecdotes in this nonfiction book about the Civil War.
Escape by Night - Laurie Myers, (978-0805088250), Fiction
Interest level: 2-6, Lexile: 520
A minister's son is torn between helping a Yankee soldier escape and telling the authorities.
Civil War on Sunday - Mary Pope Osborne, (978-0679890676), Fiction
Interest level: 1-5, Lexile: 340
Jack and Annie go through their magic tree house to meet Clara Barton during the Civil War.
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg - Rodman Philbrick, (978-0439668187), Fiction
Interest level: 3-8, Lexile: 950
Homer sets off to rescue his soldier brother during the Civil War.
You Wouldn't Want to Be a Civil War Soldier - Thomas Ratliff, (978-0531245033), Non-fiction
Interest level: 8-12, Lexile: 925
Written from the soldier's perspective, this nonfiction book tells about life from both sides of the war.
Girl in Blue - Ann Rinaldi, (9780439676465), Fiction
Interest level: 8-12, Lexile: 680
Sarah Louisa runs away from home when she learns that she is to be married to her neighbor, whom she does not like. Her adventures begin when she disguises herself as a boy and joins the Army.
Civil War - John Stanchak, (9780756672676), Non-fiction
Interest level: 8-12, Lexile: 1030
This DK Eyewitness Book gives clear, comprehensive information about the Civil War.
Red Moon at Sharpsburg - Rosemary Wells, (670-036382), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 760
A young teenage girl must try and keep her family functional during the Civil War.
Young Adult Books (ages 12-18; Grades 7 and up)
March Toward the Thunder - Joseph Bruchac, (978-0142414460), Fiction
Interest level: 4-12, Lexile: 850
Based on a family story, Bruchac tells the story of a Native American who joins the Irish Brigade on the Union side during the Civil War.
Diamonds in the Shadow - Caroline Cooney, (385-732619), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 750
African refugees, having escaped from a civil war in their own country, bring some of its danger to the U.S.
Picture the Dead - Adele Griffin, (978-1402268342), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 800
Jennie finds a gifted photographer after her fiance dies while fighting as a soldier; she talks to the dead through the photographer's ability to communicate with spirits.
Guerrilla Season - Pat Hughes, (374-400288), Fiction
Interest level: 5-12, Lexile: 520
A guerrilla band during the Civil War challenge teen loyalty when they fight under their own flag.
Across Five Aprils - Irene Hunt, (978-0425182789), Fiction
Interest level: 7-12, Lexile: 1100
Jethro quickly grows up when he has to take care of the farm for his father during the Civil War Years.
Blood and Germs: The Civil War Battle Against Wounds and Disease - Gail Jarrow, (9781684371761), Non-fiction
Interest level: 10-17, Lexile: 1030
Learn about how doctors during the Civil War worked to save wounded and sick soldiers.
Two Girls of Gettysburg - Lisa Klein, (159-9901056), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 830
Two female cousins find themselves on opposite sides during the Civil War.
How I Found the Strong - Margaret McMullan, (978-0553494921), Fiction
Interest level: 4-12, Lexile: 860
Frank thought he wanted to be fighting with his brother and father for the Confederacy, but some of experiences change his thinking.
Soldier's Heart - Gary Paulsen, (978-0440228387), Fiction
Interest level: 5-12, Lexile: 1000
After enlisting, Charley views the slaughter and stress of the Civil War in a different way.
The River Between Us - Richard Peck, (978-0142403105), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 740
Two strange young "ladies"" come to live with the Pruitts in Illinois during the Civil War."
The Slopes of War - Norah Perez, (978-0547016146), Fiction
Interest level: 8-12, Lexile: 850
Buck fears he might be fighting in the Civil War on the side opposite his two cousins.
Leigh Ann's Civil War - Ann Rinaldi, (978-0547549996), Fiction
Interest level: 4-9
A pre-teen girl must help her ill father after her brothers go to fight in the Civil War.
An Unlikely Friendship: A Novel of Mary Todd Lincoln and Elizabeth Keckley - Ann Rinaldi, (978-0152063986), Fiction
Interest level: 4-9, Lexile: 740
Two very different women, upper class Mary Todd Lincoln, and African American Lizzy Keckley, grow up separately in different worlds, but become great friends once Lincoln is in the White House.
Steal Away Home - Lois Ruby, (978-0689824357), Fiction
Interest level: 8-12, Lexile: 890
150 years after the Civil War, a young girl finds the skeleton and story of an African American woman who helped the Quakers.
The Deep Cut - Susan Rosson Spain, (978-0761453161), Fiction
Interest level: 4-9, Lexile: 830
Lonzo tries to help his household during the Civil War despite his learning difficulties.
Death on the River - John Wilson, (978-1554691111), Fiction
Interest level: 7-12, Lexile: 760
Jake begins his return home after the Civil War ends, but his peace is shattered by memories of all the deaths and violence he had found himself in the middle of.
President Lincoln's Secret - STEVEN WILSON, (978-0758232144), Fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Colonel Fitz Dunaway helps President Lincoln search out traitors and spies after an ammunition storehouse explodes.