Rebel In Petticoats

by Nancy Gentry

In 1861 ten-year-old Rachel Franklin and her family are pulled into the midst of the Civil War. Though at first the glory of fighting for the southern Cause brought pride and excitement into the Franklin home, the truth of war's hardships soon become apparent. Before the war the biggest worries for Rachel were using proper manners and controlling her jealousy towards her brother Bud's sweetheart, Suzanna Wade. Now Rachel and her mother must work the gardens, pick cotton, tend to their wounded men, and wait between letters with only hope that their loved ones survive. "We must be strong," Mama tells her, and on the night when Rachel must deliver an important message for Papa to save the lives of countless men, she learns the true meaning of bravery when she becomes a little Rebel in Petticoats.

284 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

For 35years I have been teaching children to read. Combining my love of reading and writing with a love of the history of the Civil War, I wrote Rebel in Petticoats, Tod Comes Home, and Little Blue Little Gray to share stories of this era with children. The World of Ivy gives young readers a glimpse of segregation in the South in 1940. The Secret and the Sunday Rose shows the lack of opportunities in sports for girls in 1950. My most recent book River of Fire is a journey on the final voyage of the Sultana, the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history which, surprisingly, few people know about. I live in Memphis, TN with my husband. I have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren. I am currently teaching at Presbyterian Day School.

Reviews

[Danae Mckain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, it was a well written story about a young girl who lives in TN during the Civil War. The story describes how her family deals with all the issues that come from being a southern family during the war. Her father and brother have to go to war, and she has to help in the war effort in ways she never thought possible. Like I said, overall it was a good book, but I would have rather had more plot development and actual fictional story than all the battle details. The author does a great job of including them...it was just too much for me by the end and kind of made those parts super boring.

I do however love that this is a local author and she has other books about the Civil War that I think will be good. She definitely knows her history.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a quick read. My grandmother's friend wrote it and some school teachers are beginning to include it onto their reading lists. Though it is written from the perspective a young girl living in the south during the civil war, it contains many accurate details about the war, the sides, the commanders, etc. I enjoyed it.

[Kiki]

Written by a teacher at my school!!