Customer Reviews

Charley Skedaddle

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I really enjoyed this book. I felt for Charley and his struggles. I couldn't imagine how hard it would be for a boy in a war, I think that it is hard enough for grown men to fight in a war. This book brought up many questions for me and I was drawn into this touching story. The characters interactions in the story are believable and I really enjoyed the development of Charley and Granny.
I appreciate the reviews, often times I want to know more about a book and there isn't any reviews. So for anyone complaining about a teacher assigning students to review a book, please realize that those reviews gave information about the book and it was helpful to other people. I am so sorry that you didn't appreciate a realistic assignment for those students. It is so much better and realistic to share a book review with anyone willing to read than with 25-35 other students that just read the book!

Charley Skedaddle is a novel for children that adults will also enjoy. The characters and setting in this historical fiction are unique. Charley is a young Irish boy, a member of a gang, living with his sister in New York City during the time of the Civil War. He wants to prove to himself and to others that he is brave and strong, just like his brother Johnny who was killed at Gettysburg. The narrative and conversations between Charley and others provide insight into him. One can deduct from the interaction between Charley and his sister that he feels a boy is a stronger person if he fights with an enemy instead of walking away. Compared to the solemn attitude of other soldiers, it is obvious that Charley has boyish enthusiasm for war. This books looks at the Civil War from the perspective of a young boy, instead of the common view that praises the decisions of Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson and Ulysses Grant. Throughout the book, the reader will wonder, "Will Charley ever feel better about himself and live a courageous life?" The book puts a wonderful close on this question.

I recommend this book for those who are interested in the Civil War era, and are looking for a fictional book with a story that very well could have happened. One may be interested in the fact that there were drummer boys and buglers in the Civil War and this book could be the stepping-stone to further studying those topics. For teachers, it is a great book if they are studying the Civil War or even Virginia. Charley Skedaddle brings the message to it's readers that in order to be courageous, one does not have to show it in brute strength; true courage is seen in deeds done for the good of others, not to glorify oneself. This message is a great one for children living in today's society where worth is often measured by strength and accomplishments. This book highlights hard work, honesty and honor.

A boy named Charley Quinn had a brother (Johnny Quinn)who was in a serious gang. Charley later finds out that his brother was murdered and he was with his sister who was marrying soon. Charley soon decides to go to the army during the confederate war as a drummer boy. While he was in the army, he made a few friends who were Johnny's friend. Charley was famous because of Johnny. After being in the army, he sees one of his best friend get shot. He also kills a person, which was his first time killing. After he killed the man, the army found the dead body and they search for Charley so he runs away to the mountains and meets a very brave old lady named Jerusha Bent who treats him kindly and trains him like a man. Charley skedaddles everywhere because anywhere he goes, the confederate keeps chasing him on. He had to leave because he didn't want to endanger Jerusha's life so he skedaddles.

My favorite character is Jerusha Bent. Jerusha is the old lady who helped Charley escape the chase and she also trained him to be a courageous man. She trained Charley how to kill mountain lions and other beasts. She is also very strong and healthy. Being old and healthy is being very lucky. I think that Jerusha was born in the mountains and was trained also by another person. Its is very hard to hunt and survive in the mountains. Last, Jerusha is very kind and loving. She lets Charley sleep at her house until the confederates came. I think that being kind especially in the mountains is hard because there aren't a lot of people who wanders around.

In this book, my favorite part was when Charley killed the mountain lion. After he killed the lion, he went to find Jerusha but when he followed her tracks, he found her trapped in a difficult trap set up by humans. This was when the Jerusha and Charley found out that the confederates were after Charley. This part also makes me very sad because Charley has to go away. When Charley says good bye, Jerusha was about to cry and she almost never cried in her life. I think that crying is a very good thing to do when you are very sad. You should show your feelings and expressions. This is one of my favorite part in the whole book.

Feeling rejected by his family, Charley joins the army in order to seek revenge for his brother's death and to became a hero like Johnny. Charley discovers that surviving and being a hero are difficult in a war. When his friend, Jem, is killed Charley picks up a rifle and kills an enemy soldier.Filled with panic,he runs away and becomes a deserter. Charley is captured by Confederate soldiers and questioned by an officer.The officer decides to let Charley go because of his age,not knowing that Charley has killed a Confederate soldier. Trying to escape into the Blue Ridge Mountains, Charley meets an old man driving a wagon who gives him a ride.Charley talks for hours without realizing the old man hasn't understood a single thing Charley has said because of Charley's Ney York accent. As he walks through the mountains, he comes upon an old farm. Hungry, Charley is hoping to find some eggs. He gets attacked by a goose whose job it is to protect the farm of old Granny Bent. The lonely old woman forces Charley to stay on her farm as if he were a prisoner. Gradually Charley and Granny Bent gain some respect for each other. Charley learns to true meaning of being a hero when he kills a panther attacking Granny's farm and saves the old woman's life as well. I like the fact that Charley got a chance to start his life over again. It's funny that Granny becomes more of a family than his real family. All the talk about gangs, family and belonging to something have meaning even in today's world. I would recommend this book to children my age and anyone interested in leaarning more about The Civil War.

CHARLIE SKEDADDLE

The title of my book is Charlie Skedaddle. This book is about wars and big mistakes.
I really like Charlie because he's not afraid of anything. This book tells that you shouldn't get into things that you cant get out of. I really liked how Charlie reacted when he got in to the war and I didn't really like how they just keep on fighting. I liked the ending a lot because everything was perfect.
I think the auther would keep anyone reading this book. I think the auther makes book really good. Some people might not know some of the vocabulary. I liked how the auther wrote this book. This book is more for age's 11 and up. I would recommend this book. I give this book ****...

If youre looking for a cival war novel with action and suspense , look no further. I'm telling you this is the best civil war book you'll find.

Do you like thrilling books about the past? Then Charley Skedaddle is the book for you. When Charley was at home, he was very brave, because he was on his homeland. He knew everywhere to hide. He was getting in trouble by his sister because he was getting into fights. He always ran errands for his sister and her Fiancé, Micheal. He hated him. Charley had barely any fear. He was part of a gang. His real name is Charley Quinn.
Charley is sad because he misses his brother, Johnny. From the book, it sounds like they loved each other a whole lot. Johnny went to war and got killed.
One day Charley was walking by and heard a band playing a couple blocks down. He went over to see what it was. He saw soldiers marching and playing instruments. He saw his brothers friend there, Jem Miller. He wanted to go to the war but he also didn't want to go. Jem didn't want to encourage him to go to the Civil War, but he knew a perfect place for Charley, drummer boy. Is Charley going to go to War or is he going to stay with his sister?

If you want to read more about this book, it's called Charley Skedaddle, by Patricia Beatty.

6th Grade Student from OHES

Felling rejected by his family, Charley, a 12 year old boy, runs off to war, with an old friend of Johnny's, Con, without telling them. On the ship, Con leaves Charley. Another man by the name of Jem befriends Charley and takes him under his care. Jem and Charley get to be really good friends. Then, at a battle, Jem is shot and killed. Charley picked up Jem's musket, fired, and killed another man. Afraid of death, Charley runs away. He runs into a gaurd. Fortunatley, the guard lets Charley go because of his age. While he is walking along, he meets a man driving a wagon. The man gives him a ride while Charley talks on and on. Charley then relizes that the man could not understand anything he was saying because of his New York accent. The man drops Charley off a while later, and Charley starts to walk up a mountain. Charley finds a house and, inneed of food, tries to steel some eggs from the henhouse. The goose who is the guard of the house attacks him and the owner, Granny Bent, comes out to find Charley standing out there. She takes him into her house. Granny Bent and Charley learn to have more respect for each other and come to like each other. Charley kills a painter that tried to destruct her house and saves Granny Bents life. It's funny how Charley comes to like Granny Bent better than his own family. I reccomend this book to anyone who is interested in the Civil War.

This book is the best book I ever read! It's exciting, romantic, and expressive. It also teaches history.

Charley Skedaddle is a Civil War book about a boy named Charley who lives in the Bowery, New York. When he sees his friend marching through town with his regiment he decides he should join up. He is not old enough to enlist so they make him a drummer boy. He wants to fight to get revenge for his brother who died at Gettysburg. When he gets into battle as a drummer he finds out that fighting is not exactly the fun he thought it would be. He runs and hides to wait for the battle to be over. When it is over he leaves and becomes a deserter. He meets up with and old woman who takes him in.
Charley Skedaddle is a pretty good book with some good historical events taking place throughout it. It will surprise you and give you a good look at what battle was like.