I thought this is a great book with adventure, suspense, and action. James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier created a very well written book that captivates yourself as a reader to the American Civil War against the Union and the Confederates. The historical fiction which means it is made up of events set in the past of a time period in which it is set. In this case, it was the Civil War period. While reading this book it gave you an authentic and real perspective of two characters in the book. Johnny who is part of the Confederates and believes in States Rights and Cush is a runaway slave from the South who believes it's his right to join the Union and fight to abolish slavery. In addition to how both sides of the war had thoughts as same as to what Johnny and Cush had which made the novel so interesting, in what was happening. Also, I enjoyed reading how Johnny life was like which can be related to that time period of many southerners who were in the middle to low class. Had to farm for there food and make a little income from miscellaneous tasks. Also, how labor intensive there tasks around to the household was in order to make it through the winter. In which everyone needed to help in order to have food on the table. On one event that happened, I enjoyed reading how some African Americans, for example, Cush aspired to something else than picking crops as an Enslaved African American at that time period. On page 99 it says, "'Why're you so hot to learn to read? What use is reading to nig-colored folks, when like as not most of 'em won't never do anything all their lives but hoe corn and pick cotton? 'That's that meaning of it, right there,' he said. 'I sure ain't gonna spend the rest of my life plowing, planting, and picking for somebody else's table. I done that since I was six years old. I'm gonna get some learning and kiss that old plow good-bye for good."' This quote is significant because at that time period this quote gave me some gratitude because Cush was faced with many adversities but still thrived for a better education and life. I suggest this book to readers who like historical fiction novels and action and adventure. It is a great novel and very well written.