Evvy's Civil War

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Summary: Evvy's Civil War
Review: As both a Christian Mom and person, I can't believe this book is available to our youth. It is well written but I highly question the subject matter. Do you want your chilren reading about a Evvy's quest for sex education and having words like adultery, intercourse and fornication defined in the book? Or about negro slaves whose fathers are the plantation owners, an attack on a slave by white youth, a youth lusting after a negro slave, a married man falling in love with Quaker woman, another Quaker woman pregnant beore marriage and what a problem having children can be? It is a mini soap opera and is a big disappointment when one is expecting a good historical fiction novel for youth.

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Summary: Poorly done fiction
Review: As much as I did enjoy Evvy and her Quaker cousins and did realize that every person throughout all of history has been an individual, this was a poorly done book. For starters, I had a hard time believing Quakers would be so open about sex. Secondly, Evvy was very liberal- far too liberal to be a believable historical character. I like heroines to be independent and strong willed, but one must be realistic when dealing with historical fiction. But do read this- it IS absorbing.

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Summary: A Story of Women's Strength
Review: Evvy Chamberlyn is one strong young lady. She does what is right for all people and treats others fairly. I am proud that she didn't use her "discovery" to better herself. Evvy was a family person who didn't require a family of her own for success.

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Summary: Paula from Richview Middle School
Review: Evvy's Civil war is a good book. I would have preferred more romance though. Its about a Evelyn Chamberlyn, or Evvy, a fourteen-year-old girlgrowing up during the Civil War. When she turns fourteen, she "becomes a lady" agianst her will. But soon she must deal with more than a tight corset, wide hoop skirt, and unconfortable camisole. She finds that her family is a station in the Underground Railroad. A preacher seems to think a woman's only job is to obey her husband and Evvy deals with the unfairness for being a woman. Her mother might be in danger for having too many children and continues to have children because she wants a boy to inherit the property. Evvy's father joins the Confederates. Evvy's baby sister, Bea, dies. While her father is away, Evvy runs the household while her mother gets over the shock of Bea's death. Evvy learns startling secrets about her family and her ancestors. And then her Inner Light keeps telling her to fight for women's freedom. What girl, or young woman really, can handle all that? Evvy's life can't get anymore hectic than that! She soon learns that everyone is born for a reason, and she needs to take action.

Rating:
Summary: Evvy's Civil War
Review: Evvy's Civil war is a good book. I would have preferred more romance though. Its about a Evelyn Chamberlyn, or Evvy, a fourteen-year-old girlgrowing up during the Civil War. When she turns fourteen, she "becomes a lady" agianst her will. But soon she must deal with more than a tight corset, wide hoop skirt, and unconfortable camisole. She finds that her family is a station in the Underground Railroad. A preacher seems to think a woman's only job is to obey her husband and Evvy deals with the unfairness for being a woman. Her mother might be in danger for having too many children and continues to have children because she wants a boy to inherit the property. Evvy's father joins the Confederates. Evvy's baby sister, Bea, dies. While her father is away, Evvy runs the household while her mother gets over the shock of Bea's death. Evvy learns startling secrets about her family and her ancestors. And then her Inner Light keeps telling her to fight for women's freedom. What girl, or young woman really, can handle all that? Evvy's life can't get anymore hectic than that! She soon learns that everyone is born for a reason, and she needs to take action.

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Summary: evvy's civil war
Review: Evvy's Civil War is a light, quick, and fairly entertaining book but I didn't really care for it all that much. The plot sounded like it would be really good, the experiences of a young girl growing up in the south during the civil war, but the execution left much to be desired. For one thing, Evvy thinks and acts more like a very liberal, very politically correct modern feminist than she does a girl living in the south during the 1860s. I like heroines to be strong and independant, but you've got to be realistic when you're dealing with historical fiction. Evvy was so liberal that I kept expecting her to start defending gay rights and abortion. Brenaman could have wrote about a young girl's disatisfaction with the treatment of women during that time period and still made her character a realistic girl of that period. Ann Rinaldi does this to perfection. Instead Evvy comes off as just being a modern girl in 18th century costume.

This is also one of those historical fiction books where all of the bad guys have the prejudices and beliefs of that time period while all the good guys have modern PC beliefs. A very simplistic way of looking at history. I also had a hard time believing that Evvy's Quaker cousins would be quite so blase about premaritial sex and adultery. Because all of the characters acted in such modern ways, I didn't get a good feel for the time period in this book. It didn't make me feel as if I was seeing a slice of the past. The book wasn't very well written also or thought out clearly. And even though it's called Evvy's Civil War hardly any of it is set during the war itself. And I won't even get into that horrible baby switching scene! Evvy's War is light and amusing but that's about all it is. If you want to read a good YA historical novel about the civil war then try something by Ann Rinaldi instead.

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Summary: Paula from Richview Middle School
Review: In the beginning Evelyn Chamberlyn ,Evvy, turns 14 & everyone expects her to become a " Lady". The problem is her mom is going to die if she does not stop having babies, her dad is off to war, & Evvy vows to prove she can do whatever men can do & still be a true woman. If Evvy's mom does not have a son they will lose her father's academy. I think the most exciting part of the story is when Will,a boy at her father's academy that was leaving for war, engages to Evvy, I want you to find out what she said. This book is very emotional.

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Summary: Powerful Historical Fiction
Review: It's the year 1860 in Virginia, and Evelyn (Evvy) Chamberlyn, is just turning fourteen years old. At fourteen, Evvy is considered a young lady, and young ladies are expected to behave in a certain way: proper. However, Evvy is unlike most young ladies, for she is educated, opinionated, and cares about world problems. While society expects all young ladies to speak, dress, and act like proper Southern belles, Evvy is determined to prove that young ladies can do more than that, and still be a true woman. Which is why Evvy is striving to prove that she can do anything that a man can do. If only the rest of the world would give her a chance to prove her worth. But when the Civil War breaks out, and the battle looms close to her family's plantation, and takes her Father along in the upsweep, Evvy discovers just how strong she truly is, for a long-hidden family secret is uncovered, and it is Evvy who must keep her world, and the world of her family, from falling apart.

As a fan of historical fiction that relates very much to war, I was ecstatic to come across EVVY'S CIVIL WAR by Miriam Brenaman, while browsing through my local (...). Evvy is a very fun character, who is full of life. She is spirited, with a good head on her shoulders, while at the same time curious and mischevious, as well. The obstacles she must face and overcome throughout the story are a true treat for the reader, as they feel as if they are right there with Evvy, helping her to achieve her goal, which is to be accepted as being just as strong and brave as a man, and proving that women are capable of more than just sitting around looking pretty. A must have book for all interested in the Civil War, and the women's right movement.

Erika Sorocco

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Summary: A Thinking Girl's Gone With The Wind!
Review: Maybe you're not old enough to read Gone With The Wind but love the movie. This book is for you. It has its own tale to tell but you do get that bite of Gone With The Wind in the story. It is a book that is more modern and contains more acceptable views on slavery and Southern culture than GWTW did and has a good message for young women. This is a girl who is concerned with the status of women in the South as well as the status of slaves. It provides some infomation that young girls want to know about and brings up cultural issues that people are curious about. I really liked this book and found it respectful of the characters and the life at that time, as well as the audience for the book.