In 1861, when war erupted between the States, President Lincoln made an impassioned plea for volunteers. Determined not to remain on the sidelines,...
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Jan 27, 2011
Laura
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This book is actually a true story about a girl, Emma Edmonds, who managed to conceal her female identity and served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Seymour Reit published this book in 1988 using Emma's own memoirs & his own research.
In 1861, when war erupted between the States, President Lincoln made an impassioned plea for volunteers. Determined not to remain on the sidelines, Em ...more As a passionate 16 year old, Emma Edmonds ran away from her Canadian home and to the land More...
In 1861, when war erupted between the States, President Lincoln made an impassioned plea for volunteers. Determined not to remain on the sidelines, Em ...more As a passionate 16 year old, Emma Edmonds ran away from her Canadian home and to the land More...
Apr 29, 2009
Joel
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“Behind rebel lines” is the story of Emma Edmonds. She is a woman who disguises herself as a man to serve in the Union Army during the United States Civil War.I found the story to be personally inspirational. I feel that young readers will have similar responses. Particularly female readers, stories of this type are predominately told with male role models. This book shows that women are strong, capable, and proficient.
I however, didn't care for the style of the book. First off, I under More...
I however, didn't care for the style of the book. First off, I under More...
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May 31, 2010
Megan
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Behind Rebel Lines was a book about a female war spy. It took place during the civil war while females were not aloud to fight on the field. Emma Edmonds fooled others into thinking that she was a man, as she originally signed up to be a field nurse. Emma then took the position of a civil war spy, fooling even more people into thinking that she was a confederate soldier. She must balance being a woman, a man, and a fighter, while keeping her secret safe all at the same time.
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Jun 01, 2009
Jeanette
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Franklin Thompson, private in the Union Army; Cuff, contraband Slave; Bridget O'Shea, Irish Peddler; Charles Mayberry, Southern gentleman; alias Emma Edmonds.
Seymour Reit tells the story of Emma Edmonds, a young woman who did not want to stand on the sidelines during the Civil War. Edmonds disguised herself and became Private Franklin Thompson serving as a field nurse and eventually donning more disguises and crossing Confederate lines as a spy for the Union.
Reit created a very enjoy More...
Seymour Reit tells the story of Emma Edmonds, a young woman who did not want to stand on the sidelines during the Civil War. Edmonds disguised herself and became Private Franklin Thompson serving as a field nurse and eventually donning more disguises and crossing Confederate lines as a spy for the Union.
Reit created a very enjoy More...
Jan 31, 2012
Michelle
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I really enjoyed this book because of the true story behind it. I really appreciated that all the events and people were true and real. It was inspiring to read of a girl who wanted to fight so much to impersonate a man to become a solider. I was able to learn more about the Civil War than I knew previous. When the main character Emma Edmonds whose alias was Private Franklin Thompson was heading over to rebel lines to become a spy, the story took hold of me and I couldn't put it down until I fou
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Oct 07, 2010
Natalie
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Emma Edmonds was truly an amazing person. She joined the Union army when women were allowed to serve only in limited roles as nurses. Emma wanted to contribute much more, so she dressed as a man and worked with an army surgeon for years. Her other clever disguises were the key to her success as a spy. The fact that she was a real Civil War spy sent on dozens of missions behind Confederate army lines, makes this a quick, engrossing read for young teens. Seymour Reit is an excellent historian
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Jan 25, 2012
Erin
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I really enjoyed this book. It's about a woman named Emma Edmonds who disguised as a man, and became a Civil War nurse for the North. After the first Civil War spy had been caught and killed, she (still disguised as a man, Franklin Thompson) risked her life and became the new Civil War spy which included many more disguises. This book is non-fiction which I really liked because it's really amazing to her the real-life story of a female Civil War spy. This book was a short book so it didn't take
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Oct 26, 2008
Jesus
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This book,Behind Rebel Lines by Seymour Reit, takes place in many places in the American Civil War, during 1861-1865. I would have to say that the genre of this book is historical-non-fiction, and adventure. There are many characters in this book being portraited as the same person in many disguises, but the main character is Emma Edmonds. Emma Edmonds starts off as herself, then Franklin Thompson a nurse on the field for the Union, Cuff a black salve, Bridget O'Shea
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Apr 03, 2011
Nickie
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We liked this true story of Emma, a Civil War spy, acting as a man, acting as a woman, acting as a slew of other characters in order to help the Union Army. What happened to Emma after the war was nice to read as well.
This is a quick read, nice example of a courageous girl. She had to fight to clear her male name after the war was over. At one point, she had to walk away (AWOL) because she had malaria and did not want to be found out. Later in life she was reunited with members of her regi More...
This is a quick read, nice example of a courageous girl. She had to fight to clear her male name after the war was over. At one point, she had to walk away (AWOL) because she had malaria and did not want to be found out. Later in life she was reunited with members of her regi More...
Dec 11, 2008
Miranda
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I loved this book because it told an inspiring story. A young girl named Emma got away from her home in Canada and came to America. She wanted to be able to fight for what this Country was about. So eventhough she was a girl, she made herself a boy and joined to army to fight in the Civil War. Eventually she becomes a spy and encounters many different situations and hardships. Read to see how her story turns out!
Dec 15, 2008
Hannah
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This is an exciting true story of Emma Edmunds who disguised herself as a man and joined the Union Army during the Civil War. She volunteered to be a spy after serving as a nurse for a year. She was so brave and smart! She donned many disguises and revealed many rebel plans and activities to the Union Army. This book is easy reading, and I recommend it for age 12+
Jun 15, 2008
"Private Thompson was dog tired." I think another way of saying this line that I quoted is "Private Thompson was really tired." I like the word choice that Seymour chooses because it's creative and in a way gives the reader an idea of how tired Thompson was. I liked how each chapter stated the date in which the events happened because it helps the reader keep track of the setting. Also, this book is great to read because Seymour chooses the main character to be a woman. In pa
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Aug 11, 2011
Laura
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I kept asking myself if this story was truly real! I think my students will be amazed to read about Emma Edmonds, a young woman who disguises herself as a man so she can enlist in the Civil War and help the Union cause. Her disguises and espionage experiences make this story funny at times and suspenseful too. Not that well-written, but still worth reading!
Aug 04, 2010
Alicia
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Absorbing! Read it in an hour and a half and will be recommending it to my middle schoolers. My only complaint is the lack of citations. There's an introduction and author's note that explains some of the research, but proper citations are key for non-fiction to get 5 stars.
Jan 30, 2012
Nastasya
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When I was a little girl, I wanted to be Emma Edmonds. She was so brave and bucked conventional standards for women of her time. I found this box recently when I was unpacking boxes; it has probably been boxed up for over ten years. Still a good read, even as an adult.
Nov 24, 2011
Teresa
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A quick read. Does not take more than an hour or two. It has a good story, though it is choppy and does not flow very well. The author is the one who wrote the Casper books, so I figured it would be a good story. However, as I stated it is choppy and not a well flowing.
May 05, 2011
Wendy
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Just had my school order multiple copies of this book to use with my 4th graders in our study of the Civil War. We have read it aloud in years past and the students have always found her story to be fascinating.
Mar 07, 2009
Jessica
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Good quick read. I would have liked to have learned more about her spy missions. I love Emma's determination - a women who would not let her 'station' in life determine what life she would lead. Without her intel - I wonder if the North would have won the war. A truly amazing women. I wish there was more information on her and her life.
Jun 04, 2009
Rome
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I liked it ,but I had to read it for school so I didn't have alot of time to actually reread parts I didn't understand.I think I would give it a better rating if I would read it again.
Feb 14, 2010
Kaitlyn
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The best civil war book I ever read! This is an exciting story of a young girl named Emma Edmonds, who impersonated a man and enlisted in Union Army. She eventually becomes a spy and has many adventures risking her life for the country she loves. I DEFINITELY recommend this book.
Jan 28, 2008
Chloe
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This was an engaging historical account of Civil War times. The book is written to an older elementary/young adult audience, but anyone desiring to know more about the subject will not be disappointed. This is a biographical accounting of one woman's efforts during the Civil War, and the unusual lengths she goes through to achieve her goal. I won't spoil it for you by telling you what she does, or wants to do. My son and I both read this book and enjoyed it. It's a quick read, but you will
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Apr 26, 2009
Brittany
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I really enjoyed this book. I was unaware of the fact that women fought in the Civil War. I found it interesting to hear Emma’s stories of going into the south and the different disguises that she used. I am amazed at what she was able to get away with and admire her determination and courage. I highly recommend this book.
Jan 06, 2010
Grace G.
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i am still reading this book because i have to read a civil war novel in class and this sounded the most interesting and I LUV IT
Jan 21, 2009
It is an interesting book. This is probably the best diary type book i have ever read.I still need to read Anne Frank's diary
Jul 11, 2009
Maryahn
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This was a very quick read. I had never heard of Emma Edmonds so it was great to read about a female hero from the civil war. Definitely a good youth read.
May 28, 2009
Carmela
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Very interesting book, about a girl during the civil war, who, disgused as a man, becomes a spy.
Jun 02, 2008
Heather
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I read this book knowing that it was written with low level reading abilitied students in mind. It is most likely written on a middle school reading level. I was interested in finding some age appropriate, but low leveled novels to use with some of my classes. This most likely will not make the cut. Though the vocabulary is simplistic enough, the plot, in my opinion, is incomplete. It bounces from one spy adventure to the next without giving any appropriate detail to the event. The framewo
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Jul 05, 2009
Maysie
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An excellent book! It shows that women can do what men do and that we are just as strong!
