Started my love for historical fiction!
There are very few books I've read that I am able to remember over decades. This is one of them. I believe I read this around 30 years ago while in junior high and it is responsible for starting a life long love of both history (especially American Civil War History) and historical fiction. It's a story that will stand the test of time. Until a couple of years ago I thought it was one of those rare gems I had found in the library and no one else had heard of it. One of the guys I work with began discussing it one day. He's not a big reader but he recalled a "certain book" (Rifles...) he'd read about 20 years ago that he has never been able to forget.
It is a story of adventure, history, romance, and coming of age. I think both male and female teens would enjoy it.