With Every Drop of Blood: A Novel of the Civil War [Mass Market Paperback]

James Collier (Author), Christopher Collier (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1996

Despite his promise to take care of his family, Johnny embarks on a bold mission to supply the Confederates, only to be taken prisoner by a runaway slave, in a novel that explores the reasons for the Civil War. Reprint. VY. SLJ. PW.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Collier brothers ( My Brother Sam Is Dead ) here paint a strong, affecting picture of the Civil War era, of the grueling work and privations of the home front as well the chaos and carnage of the battlefield. When Pa is wounded in action in 1864 and comes home to die, he extracts a promise from Johnny, the book's 14-year-old narrator, to stay on their farm in Virginia and look after the family. But a few months after Pa's death, Johnny undertakes a dangerous mission to bring food into besieged Richmond--and maybe avenge his father's honor. Instead, he and the family's team of mules are captured by Blue Coats; even worse (to him), the soldiers are black, and the youth suffers the ignominy of taking orders from a former slave his own age, Cush Turner. At first Johnny takes advantage of his captor's kindliness, but ultimately he becomes friends with Cush and even saves his life. When the war ends, Cush and Johnny set off toward home together, the latter observing, "For sure it is going to be a long time before kids of slaves and kids of slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood," but adding that staying friends is worth a try. The sensitive treatment of this unlikely relationship recalls Patricia Calvert's equally fine novel, Bigger . Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9-Like Patricia Beatty's Turn Homeward, Hannalee (Morrow, 1984) and Paul Fleischman's Bull Run (HarperCollins, 1993), this title gives readers a vivid portrayal of the Civil War. Johnny, 14, promises his dying father that he'll stay on their Virginia farm with his mother and younger sisters. The opportunity to strike a blow against the Union Army is irresistible, however, and the boy convinces his mother to let him join a wagon train carrying food to Confederate soldiers. He has been brought up to believe that all blacks are stupid; thus, when captured by a black Union soldier about his age who insists that Johnny teach him to read, he deliberately tricks him. Reaching the Union camp, Johnny is surprised when Cush saves him from imprisonment; as the novel concludes, he saves Cush's life. Richly drawn, the two boys exhibit many of the foibles found in people everywhere, and their developing friendship is believable. Authentic battle scenes add spice to the story. A two-page foreword discusses the use of the word "nigger" in the book. Sure to become popular.
Jo-Anne Weinberg, Greenburgh Public Library, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (December 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440219833
• ISBN-13: 978-0440219835
• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 0.9 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book, January 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: With Every Drop of Blood: A Novel of the Civil War (Mass Market Paperback)

On his deathbed, Johnny's father made him promise not to go fight in the Civil War for the South but to take care of his mother and the little ones. Then, Johnny is offered 400 dollars to go on a mission to supply the Rebel troops with supplies. His family is suffering and he just can't say no. On the road, the wagon train is attacked and Johnny is captured by a black confederate soldier named Cush. Now he and Cush, though from different backgrounds, must become friends in order to get through the war. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was written in a way that I felt like I was there watching it happen. The plot was full of surprises, but easy to follow and to the point. The characters were realistic of the time period in the way that they talked and acted. The book included real places and events from the Civil War such as City Point and Appomattox. These elements made the book very historically accurate.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book for historical fiction fans., June 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: With Every Drop of Blood: A Novel of the Civil War (Mass Market Paperback)

I really liked this book, even though I read it for school. I am a fan of historical fiction, and found it hard to put down! When I read it over for the test, I only put it down once! It gets even more suspense-filled when Johnny gets captured. It is a wonderful tale of the epic battle between the North and the South. In it, you can see the hard, cold emotions of war and the hostility toward blacks that was one of the primary reasons of the war.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Tale of Friendship, November 28, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: With Every Drop of Blood: A Novel of the Civil War (Mass Market Paperback)

What would you do if you were captured in the Civil War? Whould you make friends with your captor?
Johnny lives in Virginia during the troubling times of the Civil War. While battling for the Rebels,his Dad is shot and later dies at home.
In order for his family to survive, Johnny must take a dangerous job delivering goods to the Rebel army. As soon as the wagon train is underway, it is ambushed by a large number of Federal troops.
Although Johnny is one of the few lucky ones to still be alive,he is captured by the Federals and follows them through the war.
By reading the book, you will learn how Johnny struggles to stay out of Federal prisons with his mind set on returning home to his family.
I loved how this book not only showed the pysical hardships endured by the young people ate the time, but the mental ones as well.
I would recommed this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and also enjoys a wonderful book about friendship.
Christopher and James Lincoln Collier also wrote My Brother Sam is Dead.