Other editions of book A Ballad of the Civil War

From Newbery Honor-winning author Mary Stoltz comes a poignant and realistic story of brother pitted against brother during the Civil War. This chapter book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 6 to 8 who are ready to read independently."A good choice for introducing historical fiction."—School Library Journal Tom Rigby didn't think that anything could ever come between him and his twin, Jack. But things begin to change when Tom learns that they are not allowed to play with their friend Aaron anymore because he's a slave. Tom is upset, but Jack doesn't seem to care. All Jack cares about is playing soldier.Eleven years later, when war breaks out, Jack joins the Confederation army. But Tom can't bring himself to fight for a cause he doesn't believe in—slavery. So Tom rides north to join the Union army—even though he knows he may one day have to face his brother on the battlefield.

A Brother's WarTom Rigby didn't think that anything could ever come between him and his twin, Jack. But things begin to change when Tom learns that they are not allowed to play with their friend Aaron anymore because he's a slave. Tom is upset, but Jack doesn't seem to care. All Jack cares about is playing soldier.Eleven years later, when war breaks out, Jack joins the Confederation army. But Tom can't bring himself to fight for a cause he doesn't believe in -- slavery. So Tom rides north to join the Union army -- even though he knows he may one day have to face his brother on the battlefield.

Tom and Jack Rigby were as close as close could be. And Aaron, a slave boy at Rigby Plantation, was almost as close to the twins as they were to each other. Tom didn't dream that anything could ever come between them. He was wrong. On their ninth birthday, Tom and Jack learned that they would never see their friend Aaron again. Aaron was getting too uppity, said Father, so he had him sent away from the Big House to live down in the quarter. Eleven years later, it is Tom who is leaving the Big House. He is riding north to enlist in the Union army, leaving behind an unforgiving brother who will never understand why Tom will not - indeed cannot - defend their father's right to own people. Inspired by a nineteenth-century ballad that she learned as a child, Mary Stolz has created a moving and dramatic story about two boys growing up in an era that sadly ended in a "brothers' war."

A Brother's War- juvenile historical fiction Tom Rigby didn't think that anything could ever come between him and his twin, Jack. But things begin to change when Tom learns that they are not allowed to play with their friend Aaron anymore because he's a slave. Tom is upset, but Jack doesn't seem to care. All Jack cares about is playing soldier. Eleven years later, when war breaks out, Jack joins the Confederation army. But Tom can't bring himself to fight for a cause he doesn't believe in -- slavery. So Tom rides north to join the Union army -- even though he knows he may one day have to face his brother on the battlefield.