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

"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

"A powerfully moving story about the Creighton family of Southern Illinois and their personal struggles in the War Between the States."--Chicago Daily News

"Drawing from family records and from stories told by her grandfather, the author has, in an uncommonly fine narrative, created living characters and vividly reconstructed a crucial period of history."--ALA Booklist

"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."--University of Chicago Center for Children's Books