Excellent Book, But Not For Younger Readers

books:


	• Turn Homeward, Hannalee Patricia Beatty HarperTrophy, 1999 - 208 pages average customer review:based on 12 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Excellent Book, But Not For Younger Readers

This is a fantastic story of little known historical events during the Civil War. It is well written, captivating, and historically accurate. The main character is endearing and brave, and all the characters throughout the book are fleshed out and very believable.

This book will educate the reader on the Civil War and broaden their perspective on what the people on both sides suffered.

The only problem with this book is that it is marketed for 9-12 year olds, and I think it is too intense for that age group. It is "heavy" emotional reading from start to finish [full of suffering, children taken from their families, loved ones dying, etc].

In addition, there are two scenes in particular that I found troubling for such a young age group: 1) There is a scene where the Yankee Soldiers get drunk and start "forcing their attentions" on the young girls who work at the Mill. This was a very tense and emotionally painful scene, and far more than the average 9yo needs to know about evil in the world. 2) There is a scene after the battle of Murfreesboro where the two young heroes of the story come upon a battlefield scene, and it is described graphically - too much so for younger kids in my opinion.

I add these as warnings for parents who may be concerned - if you are a parent who lets your 9yo watch R rated movies and play very violent video games, then this is not a problem for you. If you are a more cautious parent who tries to preserve your children's innocence at this early age, then you need to know that this book may not be appropriate for your family.

All said, it is an excellent book and would be great, educational, and entertaining reading for any teen or adult.

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An intriguing work of historical fiction...

All 12-year-old Hannalee Reed has ever known is the mill. In her small Georgia town, everyone, from children to adult, earns his or her living in the factory.

Then Yankee soldiers come and burn the mill down to halt the Confederate war effort. To her horror, the soldiers take Hannalee, her 10-year-old brother Jem and her brother's teenage fiancee Rosellen away from their families and hometown, far up north, where they are auctioned off as servants.

Desperate to stay with Jem, Hannalee cuts off her braids to disguise her brother as a girl. But the ruse fails, and Hannalee finds herself alone in the home of a Yankee couple who hate her, simply because she's Southern.

Her mind on her widowed mama, who was expected to have a baby any day, Hannalee decides she's got to head home. She runs away from her master and sets out looking for Jem and Rosellen.

Readers will enjoy the adventures of Hannalee, who is both courageous and just a regular child like themselves. The pull of home -- as poor and war-torn as it may be -- is also touching.

If you enjoy this book, be sure to check out "Be Ever Hopeful, Hannalee," which picks up the Reeds' story just after the Civil War, when they struggle to build a new life for themselves in Atlanta.

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just what my child needed for class

my granddaughter needed a copy of Turn Homeword, Hannalee for her 5th grade social studies class. It was not available anywhere, in any store, here in our area...not anywhere within a 50 mile radius. I ordered it from Amazon and we had it 3 days later!!!! talk about service...thanks amazon

happy grandma in North Carolina

Student with a review

This story is a bout a girl named Hannalee. Her older brother, Davey, breaks up with his girlfriend Rosellen to go to war. The Civil War. Hannalee is shipped away from her home is Georgia because she wants to go to war. Houses are burned, people are killed, and people blast cannons. Hannalee must face the hardships of her new life in war. Hannalee has to fulfill her promise to her mom about returning home to her nice and wonderful life back in Georgia.

My opinion of this book is that it was action filled. Nothing ever stopped happening and Hannalee is a very brave girl to go to war. Nothing in this book was boring or dumb.
I am writing from San Anselmo, CAlifornia

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3

During the closing days of the Civil War, plucky 12-year-old Hannalee Reed, sent north to work in a Yankee mill, struggles to return to the family she left behind in war-torn Georgia. "A fast-moving novel based upon an actual historical incident with a spunky heroine and fine historical detail."--School Library Journal. Author's note.

"There are few authors who can consistently manage both to entertain and inform." --Booklist

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