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Caves, Cannons and Crinolines

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Do you know what a crinoline is? Most young ladies today would have no idea. However, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Stamford is a fictional young lady, who lives at Vicksburg, MS, in 1861 during the Siege of Vicksburg by General Grant and his Union forces. Her father is a physician at the local hospital. Her two older brothers, Joseph and Willie, are soldiers in the Confederate Army fighting in Virginia. She, her mother, her younger brother Nathan (Nat) who seems slightly slow-witted, and their two servants are forced to live in a nearby cave while the Union cannons are shelling Vicksburg. Patrick, the young man who had been sweet on her, signed up with Joseph and Willie, but he had already been killed.
Lizzie has a rebellious streak, and feeling great anger toward the Union forces due to all the changes they forced in the Stamfords' lives, she puts aside her crinoline, which is a hoop skirt with a petticoat of highly sized, stiff fabric to make it flare, and sneaks out, disguised as a boy dressed in Nat's clothes calling herself Eli, to join General Pemberton's Confederate defenders. However, that does not go too well, especially after Private Arnold, who had become like a mentor to her, is killed right before her eyes, so she decides to return home. On the way, she discovers a Yankee soldier, Private Benjamin Clayton from Ohio, who had been shot in the arm, and, thinking about what she would want people to do if they found either of her brothers injured, she took him home where her father attended to his wounds. The soldier leaves a few days later in the confusion when the Stamfords receive a letter about Willie. Will it be good news or bad news? And will Lizzie ever see or even hear from Ben again?
Historical fiction is probably my favorite genre of young people's literature, and Beverly Stowe McClure, author of Rebel in Blue Jeans, does a great job of presenting the Civil War for teenagers from both Southern and Northern viewpoints. There is no bad language or, for that matter, much to which anyone would object, aside from a couple of minor references to drinking alcohol. All the characters are portrayed quite naturally, and the action is carried forth in a way that will keep the reader turning the pages. One can really get a feel for how the war affected the lives of the people who experienced it. Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines would make good historical fiction supplementary reading in connection with any study of the Civil War, especially the capture of Vicksburg.

Even when the world is coming down around you, the need for love and comfort is more important than ever. "Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines" tells the story of Lizzie Stamford and her family as they struggle to survive and live their lives as the American Civil War explodes around them. Through the chaos around them, they try to remember what is truly important in their lives. "Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines" is an intriguing read, not to be missed for historical fiction readers.

Most of us have read about the American Civil War, Mrs. McClure gives us a chance to live it through the eyes of Lizzy, a 14-year-old girl who is determined to help the South send those darn Yankees back to the North where they belong. Their beloved family home isn't safe anymore, and if the war keeps up any longer, it will be unrecognizable from all the rubble surrounding it. Lizzy hates those cannons. She hates living in a cave even more, but what really gets her ire up is seeing how much those Yankees have turned the lives of her family upside down.

She rarely sees her father. He's the town doctor so he's gone for days at a time, caring for wounded soldiers. Apparently, it doesn't matter that his family also needs him. Both of her older brothers snuck off in the middle of the night to enlist. Nobody has heard from them since. Lizzy writes them daily, but she's afraid for them. She's afraid of a lot of things lately. The cannons are getting closer, food is scarce, and her gentle younger brother, Nat, is changing. If this war keeps up, Nat might abandon his dreams of flying machines for a gun!

Her mother is too busy to notice. When she's not making bandages for the war effort or helping wayward neighbors, her attention is on Lizzy. The woman is determined, against all odds, to turn her daughter into a proper Southern lady. All Lizzy has to do is look pretty, keep her opinions to herself, and focus all that excess energy on attracting a suitable beau.

The Yankees!--Lizzy decides, all of this mess is the Yankees' fault. Donning her brother's clothes, she sets off to enlist. Someone has to end this war. Why not her?

Guns, battle, Yankees... none of them are what she expects. The lines between right and wrong are blurred. Friends are foes. Foes are friends. How in the world can a Yankee be a gentleman? Isn't that an oxymoron?

I was hooked from the first page. Mrs. McClure weaved an endearing tale. I laughed. I cried, and I learned! I'm so glad I read this book! Thank you Beverly Stowe-McClure for writing it!

Beverly Stowe McClure has crafted an accurate and exciting historical novel for young adults in Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines. She describes the Siege of Vicksburg through the eyes of a young Southern girl, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Stamford. Lizzie and her family, consisting of her mother, younger brother, Nat and their two servants have to live in a cave during the siege in an effort to keep safe from the Yankee bombardment. Her father is a doctor who cares for the wounded at the local hospital and is not home very often. Ms. McClure gives a faithful account of the townspeople's plight during the siege - cave dwelling, lack of food and horrors of war.
Wanting to do something to help with the cause, Lizzie disguises herself as a boy in a misguided attempt at joining the Confederate troops. She soon learns that this is not the way to help, but meets a Yankee soldier who has been wounded. Her natural caring and the thought of her brothers make her take him to her house to nurse his wounds. She realizes that friendship comes through caring, not necessarily where you live or who you are. Read about Lizzie's experience and a small part of our history. Lizzie's spunky attitude shows throughout the story and does not waiver for long as she accepts what is happening and looks forward to the future when the war is over and all is returned to normal.
Beverly Stowe McClure lives in Texas with her husband, Jack. She is a mother to three sons, grandmother to four granddaughters and two grandsons and great grandmother to one great grandson. Her official bio says she married very young.
Beverly is a member of both the North Texas and the national Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines is a finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and a finalist in the Dan Poynter eBook Global Awards for Teen Literature -- Fiction.

The main character, Lizzie, is a wonderful blend of strength and vulnerability. She is faced with changes in her life that she neither wants nor likes and she is determined not to accept all of them. The supporting characters in this story are equally likeable and very believable.

This historical fiction is steeped in emotion, danger and trauma. It is so compelling that I didn't realize I was approaching the end (read it on my Kindle) and was sorely dissappointed when I found I had reached it. I would have loved for this adventure to continue.

Life is turned upside-down for 14-year-old Elizabeth Stamford when her hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi is under siege during the Civil War. Forced to vacate her home and live in a cave with her family, Lizzie ends up learning firsthand about war: its horrors and unfairness. Through an unexpected alliance, Lizzie learns that what side you are on isn't as important as what's in your heart.

Ms. McClure did a lovely job bringing Lizzie to life. I enjoyed the young heroine's spunk, impulsiveness and wry humor. Lizzie's close friendship with her younger brother, Nathan, made for interesting scenes - tender one moment, typical sibling bickering the next, but with a fierce loyalty to one another.

I recommend Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines for young adult readers, especially those interested in history. The book would make a nice addition to the American history curriculum for teachers or homeschoolers.

In Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines, Beverly Stowe McClure has deftly crafted an appealing tale of war, family, and the coming of age of a headstrong heroine.

This young adult novel tells the story of Lizzie Stamford and her family's struggles on the home front during the American Civil War. Set in Vicksburg during the shelling of that city by Federal gunboats, this novel weaves one girl's adventures with actual events and people of that time period. Teens (and adults) will not only learn about the Civil War from a Southerner's perspective, but will also relate to Lizzie and her growing awareness that many issues in life have more than one point of view.

A must-read for Civil War fans!

Beverly Stowe McClure is an award-winning, multi-published author. In Caves, Canons and Crinolines she delves into the pages of history, bringing them to life in this young adult historical novel. The story has been inspired by events of the American Civil War, and chronicles the hardships and triumphs of her engaging characters as the horrors of war invade their lives.

Fourteen year old Elizabeth (Lizzie) Stamford and her family live in war-torn Vicksburg. The family is deeply involved with the war efforts - the father is a doctor working diligently in the nearby hospital tending to the wounded; brothers Willie and Joseph are serving with the troops in Virginia. Not unlike many of the surrounding families, Lizzie, her mother and young tender-hearted brother Nat, have to abandon their beautiful home after a shell comes crashing through the home. They seek refuge in a local cave and begin to set up housekeeping in this dingy hole in the earth in order to avoid the blast of cannons and gunfire. Every time the artillery fires the ground shakes and dust and dirt falls all around them in their cave. McClure's vivid descriptions draw you right into the chaos and fear of the time.

I was immediately drawn into the story with the emotional letter from Lizzie to her brother Willie. She is quite upset with the separation of the family, and life is no longer as they once knew with the city under siege. Civilians are caught in the middle and no where is safe...not even the caves, but they do their best to find shelter and survive this ordeal...and the precocious girl hatches a plan. She cuts her hair, and, disguised as a young man, enlists to wage battle against their attackers.

Soon she finds war is not as black and white as she once thought. Living through the horrors of battle and seeing the fields littered with corpses, she is quite overwhelmed and overcome with it all and she quickly retreats towards home. In her journey she meets a Yankee soldier and finds he isn't at all what she expected a Yankee to be like. She learns many life lessons in her adventures including compassion and the "enemy" is not necessarily the monster she imagined but, confusingly enough, has beliefs and ideals that are very much like her own.

I highly recommend this story. The characters are compelling, the story well written and thought provoking.

McClure crafts a compelling young adult novel that takes place during the Civil war with Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines. (for those that don't know, a crinoline is a hoop skirt which was in fashion in the mid 1800's.)

Set in 1863 during the Yankee siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, fifteen-year-old Elizabeth (Lizzie) Stamford's life has turned upside down. Her house has been shelled more than once, so her mother takes the family to a nearby cave. Lizze's family consists of twelve-year-old Nathan, her two older brothers, Willie and Joseph, and her father who is a surgeon in the local hospital.

Lizzie wants to help in the war effort and runs off, disguised as a boy, hoping to join the army. She meets two Confederate soldiers who befriend her, but she also witnesses events no one should see.

On her way back to her mother, Lizzie find a young Yankee soldier who is injured. Despite her better judgment, Lizzie takes him to her shelled out house and seeks out help for him. Nathan reluctantly supports her.

Lizzie gets to know the Yankee and learns his name is Private Benjamin Clayton. He heals in the house, but a rogue bunch of Yankees try to loot it. Lizzie is forced to shoot one. Ben soon leaves and Lizzie is left to wonder if she'll hear from him again.

McClure's writing is crisp. The plot flows well. The story is told in the first person from Lizzie's perspective, capturing the authenticity of the time and place.

McClure's characters are interesting. Lizzie is brave and daring, dressing as a boy to join the army. She looks fear in the eye and overcomes it when she decides to help Benjamin.

Nathan also embodies courage as he stands by his family. Joseph is shell-shocked when he returns from the war. Lizzie learns that sometimes things aren't what they seem and living is more challenging than crinolines.

Even though the story takes place during the civil war, young readers can understand the same hardships faced today when their loved ones deploy. "Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines" is a rewarding story that uses a subtle touch to show the reader what history is all about.