An ALA Best Book for Young Adults, now in paperback. This insightful historical novel set during the Civil War looks at a girl's struggle to keep her family together and to accept her stepfather's beliefs about slavery and the war.
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An ALA Best Book for Young Adults, now in paperback. This insightful historical novel set during the Civil War looks at a girl's struggle to keep her family together and to accept her stepfather's beliefs about slavery and the war.
Read Less
Add this copy of In My Father's House to cart. $13.61, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1994 by Turtleback Books.
Add this copy of In My Father's House (Turtleback School & Library to cart. $44.65, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1994 by Turtleback Books.
In My Father's House is a historical novel set in Virginia before and during the Civil War. Written in semi-diary form, the story is told from the perspective of teen-ager Oscie Mason who is a step-daughter of Wilmer McLean. McLean's story is one of many strange but true stories from the Civil War. Wanting to escape the scourge of battle, McLean moves his family from Yorkshire Plantation (near Bull Run, the first large battle of the war fought in 1861) to Appomattox Court House; interestingly enough, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at the McLean house in Appomattox Court House in April of 1865. P. G. T. Beauregard, Edward Porter Alexander, John Mosby, John Gordon, Ulysses S. Grant, Philip Sheridan, and Robert E. Lee are among the historical figures mentioned or featured in the story; in fact, in a conversation with Edward Porter Alexander, Oscie Mason learns about southern honor and its place in the Civil War. I especially liked how author Ann Rinaldi depicted the surrender of Lee to Grant in the final days of the war. This is a fast-paced and well-written novel that drew me in quickly and is ideal for middle or high school students. It is also ideal for teachers and their students in language arts/social studies block classes who are looking for a good and highly readable historical novel portraying the events leading up to and including the Civil War.
Kari
Apr 26, 2007
What a Book!
'In my Father's House' is an excellent book for any girl who loves to read about history, even if it's a historical fiction. It's listed as young adult but I started reading it 12 years ago and haven't stopped since.
The story is written about Oscie Mason and displays her life through her teen years, during the Civil War. Her mother remarries, tragedy occurs more than it should, and an unrealized character comes through where you'd least expect it, not to mention a little romance here and there.
The history plays over the story of Wilmer McLean and his family who flee their home in Bull Run when the Civil War starts on their front lawn. The family travels farther and farther south, to get away from the war, only to have it end in their parlor.
I would honestly recommend this book to anyone looking for historical fiction or even just a good story to draw a young woman into reading. They won't regret it!
