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inspiretruth's review against another edition
5.0
A perfect book for teachers to read in class with students. How I Found the Strong is a powerful story for such a small book. Loosely based on the life of one of her relatives, Margaret McMullen does an incredible job of making this tale about the Civil War come to life. We may not live in the age where owning a slave is thought of as a privilege, but the war of racism still rages on, today!
How I Found the Strong is told through the eyes of twelve-year-old, Frank "Shanks" Russell. The war between the South and North has just begun, and his pa and older brother, Henry, have enlisted to fight for the South's rights. Longing to be a solider and have his father look at him the way he looks at Henry, Shanks wants nothing more than to go with them. Little does Shanks realize a vital mission is awaiting him after his father and brother go to war: Becoming the man of the house.
With his family's slave, Buck, working alongside him, Shanks continues in his father's footsteps, and together they work the land. However, as the war intensifies and his friendship with Buck grows, Shanks begins to question to origins of the war and wonder who the real enemy is!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Emotion bled through its pages, hitting hard as Shanks came to understand the meaning of true freedom. Margaret McMullen is a fantastic writer, and I can't wait to read the rest of her books soon!
How I Found the Strong is told through the eyes of twelve-year-old, Frank "Shanks" Russell. The war between the South and North has just begun, and his pa and older brother, Henry, have enlisted to fight for the South's rights. Longing to be a solider and have his father look at him the way he looks at Henry, Shanks wants nothing more than to go with them. Little does Shanks realize a vital mission is awaiting him after his father and brother go to war: Becoming the man of the house.
With his family's slave, Buck, working alongside him, Shanks continues in his father's footsteps, and together they work the land. However, as the war intensifies and his friendship with Buck grows, Shanks begins to question to origins of the war and wonder who the real enemy is!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Emotion bled through its pages, hitting hard as Shanks came to understand the meaning of true freedom. Margaret McMullen is a fantastic writer, and I can't wait to read the rest of her books soon!
rwaringcrane's review against another edition
4.0
This book is part of assigned reading for my Creative Nonfiction class. It was a quick read and very enjoyable. Engaging writing from first-person perspective.
sar_19's review against another edition
4.0
This is a coming of age story about a boy too young to join his father and brother as Confederate soldiers, but must take on the role of watching over his mother, grandparents and slave back home. The slave is a boy a little older than him. This would be a great book for Middle School kids to read.
maevreads52's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! I was captivated by "Shanks" and how wise he was at such a young age!
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