Rating: 
Summary: Shades of Differences
Review: The Yankees killed Will's family and Will can't respect his uncle who refused to fight in the war and now Will thinks of him as a trader.
Carolyn Reeder showed courage, pride, respect and understanding in each character in Shades of Gray. When Will first met his relatives he had to live with because the war had killed his family, Will was very sure that you give no pride and respect to a traitor. Will's father had died in a battle against the Yankees, his sister had died of an illness, and his brother died of a senseless death from the Yankees. Altogether his mother died of grief. His mother had written a request saying that William (Will) would live with her sister's family in Piedmont, Virginia. Doc Martin, the doctor that tended to Will's sisters when they were injured, is accompanying Will to meet his family. During his time away from Winchester, his old home, Will learned to do good old hard work. In Winchester, Will was able to go to school and play with his friends, then have slaves do all the work. But in Piedmont, Virginia, his new home, Will learned how to walk to the stream and walk along the trap lines to look for food. He learned to garden and hoe. He learned how to build a fence, all the things Will thought were impossible to do Will gets a letter from Doc Martin saying something that could change Will's life again At first Will realizes that if he leaves he'll leave disappointment with the family. Even though he was a little stubborn, Will had done some good things for the family. Will learns it took his uncle a lot of courage to do what he believed in, which was not to fight in the war, when everyone else was. Courage is more than being able to fight, its being able to do what you believe in no matter what.
6th Grade Student from OHES
Rating: 
Summary: A boy who didn't like his uncle for not fighting in the war.
Review: This book was about a boy who thought of his uncle as a traitor because he didn't fight in the war. I give this book a 9 because I enjoyed the story at some times I could feel what Will was feeling . I'm glad it didn't have much action this was a nice book to read and think of how it felt to be in his position.
Rating: 
Summary: this book was great
Review: this book was great it helped me to see that even though people didn't fight in a war they could of it dosen't mean they 're a coward. No matter what kind of war it is.
Rating:
Summary: Shades of Gray
Review: This is a great book. Will Page has to live with his uncle, aunt, and cousin after the rest of his family died in all different kinds of ways due to the Civil War that recently occured. Will in the beginning was acting too selfish, but towards the end, he appreciated his uncle after he didn't before because his uncle refused to fight against the Yankees. The Yankees killed Will's father and brother. Will decided to stay with his uncle, aunt, and cousin even after he got a letter from Doc Martin (an old friend) and said he could go and live a better life with him, but it was Will's choice.
Rating:
Summary: from a historical fiction fan
Review: this is the story of wiil page dealing with the after effects of the civil war. His father was killed by yankees but he died honorably fighting for a cause he believed in. This is the way Will saw things. Nothing could be worse than not fighting in the war. He thought if you didnt you were a coward. But when he is forced to live with his uncle he begins to realize things arent always so simple. Sometimes it takes more courage not to fight. This book is well written I enjoyed very much, especially the relationship with his young cousin, Meg.
This book is highly recommended for people of all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Good way to understand the chaos.
Review: We read this book for discussion in a fifth grade history class. It's an easy and enjoyable reader. In terms kids can understand, it explains the different views on the war. Reeder shows how slavery hurt everyone when it came to hard work. Will has to learn a whole new way of life. Uncle Jed knows how to work and fix anything. He becomes a necessary asset to his community. Lots of good things for kids to be thinking about.
Rating: 
Summary: Shades Of Gray
Review: When Uncle Jed glanced up, Will reddened guiltily and stepped inside the toolshed to look for a hoe. Since he had often watched Fred tend their small garden while he listened to the tales and fables the old slave loved to tell, he didn't think he'd have any trouble working around the roots of the plants and chopping out the weeds.
In Carlyn Reeder's novel Shades of Gray, Will, a boy around twelve years old, is left with his Uncle Jed, his Aunt Ela, and his cousin Meg. This is the only family Will has left because his father and Charlie were killed by the Yankees and his mother and sisters died of a disease. There, Will must learn how life is as a country man with no slaves and must except the fact that his Uncle had refused to fight for the Confederacy.
This book would be great for people that live in a rural area. This is because Will has to learn to live the life of a farmer. After the Civil War ended, Will had left to go to his new house, he later received a letter and must decide if he wants to stay with his Uncle or live with a man named Doctor Martin.
Rating:
Summary: It was a very well written book.
Review: Will Page, a 12 year old boy from the city was the only member in his immidiate family. Because after the Yankee soldiers had killed his family he was left to stay with his unlce and family, who Will thought was traitors for not fighting in the war. After he was there for a while, mostly working he decided to stay with them in the country, then in the city.
Rating:
Summary: If you don't fight in the war, aren't you a traitor?
Review: Will thinks his uncle is a traitor for not fighting in the war. It's hard to think of his uncle's feelings when Will has just lost his whole family to the war.
After spending some time with his uncle Will soon learns that fighting isn't everything. Will may change his mind about his uncle. Only time will tell
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