Clara Barton: Civil War Nurse (Historical American Biographies) [Library Binding]

Nancy Whitelaw (Author)

Book Description

Series: Historical American Biographies | Publication Date: July 1997

Traces the life of the Civil War nurse who cared for wounded soldiers and earned the title, "Angel of the Battlefield."

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9?This biography relates Barton's accomplishments, making it clear how extraordinary her activities were for a woman of her time. Whitelaw makes use of her subject's original diaries from the Library of Congress, along with her published work. The chapters consist of easy, short sentences, lots of footnotes, and some direct quotes. Occasionally a box offers interesting incidental information. The black-and-white photographs and drawings are sharp with good contrast. A short glossary, a barely adequate index, and a list of books for further reading are included. Leni Hamilton's Clara Barton (Chelsea House, 1987) devotes more space to the Civil War, but the sources aren't documented. Rafael Tilton's The Importance of Clara Barton (Lucent, 1995) incorporates the most original quotes from published sources both in the text and in sidebars. Both have more complicated sentence structure and more illustrations than Whitelaw's title. A curious side note?all three books use the same picture on the cover.?Martha Gordon, formerly at South Salem Library,
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-7. Although there is no shortage of biographies of Barton in this age range, e.g. Cathy East Dubowski's Clara Barton, Healing the Wounds (1991), this one is unusual in that it will appeal to slower readers. Parenthetical definitions, a short glossary, and fact boxes scattered throughout the text facilitate comprehension. Simple, short sentences and small pages with wide margins further invite the reluctant reader. But Whitelaw has not sacrificed accuracy to brevity. Her liberal use of quotes and other sources is ably documented in chapter notes; the bibliography will also be helpful for school reports. A fine choice for students seeking a more mature read than Augusta Stevenson's Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross (1986) but who might be put off by more difficult choices Diane Janoff

Product Details

• Library Binding: 128 pages
• Publisher: Enslow Publishers (July 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0894907786
• ISBN-13: 978-0894907784
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,771,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Barton's Own Words, April 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Clara Barton: Civil War Nurse (Historical American Biographies) (Library Binding)

It was a joy to use this book for a History Day presentation because there were comments in Barton's own words from her thoughts and diaries. There were little known facts to keep the interest of the young adult reader, and these facts tied Barton to the historical background. I would highly recommend this book.