Emma and the Civil Warrior

by Candy Dahl

When Union troops take over Raleigh, North Carolina, Emma Graham smuggles, spies, and steals in an effort to help defeat the Union troops, until the end of the war reveals truths about war and her family.

Genres: Historical Fiction

158 pages, Hardcover

First published February 7, 2001

Reviews

[Sheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be a great text for 4th-5th grades students who are focusing on North Carolina history.

[Orion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the two weeks between April 11 and 26, 1865, this book tells the events of the Union Army's occupation of Raleigh NC as seen through the eyes of one 12 year old girl, Emma Graham, who lives a couple of blocks from the state capitol building.

When last heard from, her father was fighting with General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, but the Yankee soldiers say General Lee has surrendered to General Grant. So Emma worries about what has happened to him in the 3 years since he left. She lives with her mother and her 5 year old brother. Jinny, a free black woman, cooks and lives with them.

The day before the Union troops marched in, the government officials and Confederate troops marched out of the city and left a single black slave, who author Dahl names Simon Battle, to secure the Capitol building. When the Union soldiers arrive they set up a signal station at the top of the Capitol building with Lieutenant George C. Round in charge.

Emma is initially hostile to Lieutenant Round and the invading troops, who see sees as the enemy, but the lieutenant, knowing that Lee has surrendered to Grant in Virginia and that Confederate General Johnston is in Durham with General Sherman negotiating the terms of his surrender, is so polite and kind.

Ms Dahl has researched her topic well and provides an accurate and engaging look at this small piece of a vast war. Through her detailed look the reader gets a glimpse of the issues and complexities of the broader war. Written for young adults, this is a war without the gore approach suitable for the age group that will be especially of interest to North Carolinians and Raleighites.

[Crystal Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit, this is NOT a typical book for me, at all. But the reading challenge that I'm in said to pick a "Local Author" and Dahl ends up being a local author to me. And my mom had a copy of the book, so I figured why not!

Overall, I have to say that I was greatly pleased with the story. It kept my attention, I wanted to find out more about what was going on. What was going to happen next. What had happened to Emma's father?

There was so much packed into the story that I just couldn't put it down. I read it all in 1 sitting, which while the page count doesn't seem that much, if you don't enjoy a book you know it can take awhile!

But I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was a good find on my end.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice, short, quick read. Since I work at a historic site in Raleigh, reading familiar names (Haywood, for instance) and familiar places was a cool experience. I can’t imagine this book would go over too well if it were released now or if it suddenly becomes popular, but Emma’s journey was clear from beginning to end.

[Kate Keenan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute! Shoutout Christ Church!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

After visiting NC's Capitol building recently, I became interested in reading this book since it was suggested by the tour guide. It's a great children's story rooted in real history. Though many of the characters are fictional, some are real. It tells the story of the city of Raleigh at the closing days of the Civil War. It certainly made some aspects of that history very real in a way I had not considered previously. Imagine waiting for your soldier to come home, wondering if he's even alive. Imagine the terror of knowing that Sherman was headed for Raleigh and not knowing if he would burn it down as he had with other Southern cities. Just think of the anger you might feel toward opposing forces camped out all over your city. I mean, how do you interact with Yankee soldiers who just days earlier were the enemy? Best of all is the perspective is that of a spunky girl named Emma.

I would definitely recommend this book to a child. For an adult, it's a quick, uncomplicated, and informative read.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for children + an enjoyable story. Really good account of the Civil War and what life was like.