✨Lizzie's War (2012)

By Margie Gould Thessen

4Rbooks                                            5/6                              grades         5-8

Amazon                                              4.1/5                           grade level   4-6

Goodreads                                       3.77/5

Common Sense Media               not yet rated

135 pages

Synopsis

            Lizzie Courtney has lived in Franklin, Tennessee her entire life. She lives with her mother, older sister, and older brother. She has lived through the beginning of the Civil War and the secession of Tennessee from the Union. She has seen her town be taken over by the Union army, and her brother go off to fight for the Confederates, even though the rest of the family is pro-union.

            Everyone in Franklin is hoping the war will leave them alone but in November 1864, it comes right to their doorstep. The Union army is heading to Nashville but can’t cross the river until new bridges are built. They stay in Franklin while they wait. Meanwhile, across the river and fields, the Confederate army has gathered and is planning an attack on Nashville, going right through Franklin.

            Lizzie and her friends are both curious and scared about what might happen and they help the town prepare for the worst. That comes on November 30, 1834, when the battle begins. The families and children hide as the war is fought only to come out and asses the damage when it is over.  Though only one day and 4 hours long, it proves to be one of the deadliest battles of the war.

Parental Guidelines:    medium-high

Realistic depictions of living through a four-hour long war zone; the sights, sounds, injuries and death. Nothing is presented in overly graphic ways, but the pain and destruction is not sugar coated.

Slavery is present in Franklin during this time.  The horrors of the slave auctions and mistreatment are detailed, but the Courtney family also discusses how kind they are to their slaves and treat them like family. Still, when their slaves have a chance to escape, they do.

Recommendation

            On a recent road trip through Tennessee, my wife and I stopped in Franklin and toured the Carnton Plantation and the Carter House and heard the story of the Battle of Franklin, a seemingly little-known, but important battle toward the end of the Civil War. It was fascinating to hear about the battle, one of the bloodiest of the war, even though fighting only lasted about 4 hours. The Carter House still shows the bullet holes from the battle, and the Carnton House still has blood stained floors. I purchased this book at Carnton. I doubt you will find it in a store, but it is available on Amazon.

            This story is perfect for middle-schoolers and adults. Having visited the site, it was especially gripping, but anyone with an interest in the Civil War will find this a great read. It’s written from the perspective of the children who lived through the war and this particular battle. Lizzie Courtney is a fictional character, but many of her friends and family are not. It presents a very balanced view of the differing opinions and subplots to the Civil War. Teachers doing lessons on the war would find this a valuable resource, and it would make a great family read if interest in that time period is shown.

            It is written for elementary readers, but the subject matter makes if more of a middle school book, in my opinion. There are illustrations throughout and it is an easy read, though a tough subject, especially when details of the aftermath of the battle are shared.