Willie McLean and the Civil War Surrender

On My Own History

by Candice Ransom, Jeni Reeves (Illustrator)

Eleven-year-old Willie McLean knows that General Lee will defeat the Yankees and win the Civil War, he just knows it. When a battle moves to the fields near his home in Appomattox, Virginia, Willie’s thrilled―especially when General Lee, himself, comes to Willie’s house! But then General Grant comes, too. Overhearing the two men talk, Willie hears one Surrender. Is the war really over?

48 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2004

Reviews

[Cynthia Egbert]

I requested this one right after visiting the McLean home and the accompanying landmarks. It took a while for this book to find me. It did not offer me anything new as far as information. I did find myself angry all over again at the behavior of those soldiers inside the McLean home after the papers had been signed. The illustrations are beautiful and capture the setting well. It struck me as I read the Afterword that the whereabouts of the doll were common knowledge but there is no knowledge regarding whatever happened to Willie McLean. That rather broke my heart.

[Erin]

We read this as part of TruthQuest History for my 2nd grader (and tag-along kinder). I love the On My Own History books, and go out of my way to get them for us. The illustrations were beautiful, as always, and my girls enjoyed the book. They were upset about the soldiers’ behavior at the McLean house, and it helped them realize that people make good and bad choices on either side of any war.

[Jeanette]

Purchased this book when we visited Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia. It was a good, simple, follow up read to our trip. My kids are still indigent over the actions of the soldiers following the signing of the surrender papers.

[Deborah Harris]

RL 3.30

AR Quiz No. 79263 EN Nonfiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 3.4 - AR Pts: 0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP