Thunder at Gettysburg

by Patricia Lee Gauch

Fourteen-year-old Tillie becomes involved in the tragic battle of July 1-3, 1863

Genres: History, Civil War, Childrens, Modern, Picture Books, 2nd Grade, Historical

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Patricia Lee Gauch is an author who has written over 30 works of children's literature. In 1993, Gauch was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. She has been a resident of the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township, New Jersey.

Reviews

[Nathan Adamovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dook was very descriptive in the fighting, how the blood came out of the soldier's mouth and nose. The hand the way it got colder and colder.

[Sarah Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Historical Fiction
Awards: N/A
Audience: 4th-6th
-Describe the setting both time and place: This book is set in Gettysburg and the surrounding areas in July of 1863. During this time the Battle of Gettysburg was being fought and chaos was taking place in the residents of this area as the Union army fought against the Rebels.
-Describe the point of view from which the story is told. How does the perspective impact the story?: This story is told from a third-person point of view. Telling this story from this perspective allows the reader to understand the feelings and thoughts of all of the characters within the story. Although, the main character within the story is Tillie and the author focuses mostly on her life, feelings, and actions within the book. Tillie’s character is based on a real-life person that lived during this time period.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a kindergartener bring this book to me. He's into American history and this book does a great job of the Battle at Gettysburg. It is from the perspective of a girl living in the town and what she goes through for 4 days while the battle is raging.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tillie Pierce was a real girl who experienced the Battle of Gettysburg first-hand. This book is a brief, fictionalized account of the Civil War through the eyes of a child.

Tillie was excited about the battle coming to the land near her home. She was planning to sit at her attic window and watch the action. So exciting! When she was inadvertently thrown into the middle of the fray, though, her attitude changed quickly. Cannonballs flew overhead while Tillie and some of her neighbors fled for safety but were turned back because the battle had progressed. Back at a safe house, she fetched pail after pail of water for soldiers and cautiously eyed their wounds. War had come to her doorstep, and for the first time Tillie understood how ugly it was.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

46pgs


Gettysburg July 1-4, 1863. At first, 14 year old Tillie is happy when the Union soldiers start fighting the Rebels. Tillie has still not forgiven the Rebel soldiers for stealing her horse. Tillie is disappointed when she is sent with the neighbor's children out of town to be safe. Instead of being safe, Tillie finds herself in the middle of the battle.



Based on the true story of Tillie Pierce's "At Gettysburg, or What I Saw and Heard at the Battle of Gettysburg".

[Jennifer Bohnhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short and simple chapter book for early readers. Ms. Gauch, who is one of the great, highly respected editors of children's lit, wrote this in the 70's. She did her research well for this one; her protagonist is Tillie Pierce, whose memoir, At Gettysburg, was one of the sources for my own Gettysburg novel, The Bent Reed.

An excellent introduction to the haze of war and how civilians are affected, I recommend this for any young reader with an interest in American History.

[Kallie Krammes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great way to teach children about the history behind Gettysburg. The pictures in the book include details and images into what it was like and what was really happening. It is from a biography stand point of one girl who lived through the situations and explains how and why things happened the way they did. Good for older children.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this young adult book as an adult to learn something of the experience of the local citizens when the Civil war came to them. Images from this book still haunt me whenever we visit Gettysburg battlefield or are in Gettyburg town.

[Angelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to teach your kids history

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

explicit scenes: 0/5
violence: 1/5
language: 0/5
alcohol/drugs/smoking: 0/5
intense scenes: 1/5
age rating: 9+