Hear the Wind Blow: A Novel of the Civil War [Hardcover]

Mary Downing Hahn (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

On a cold, snowy night, Haswell Magruder makes a decision that will have a profound effect on his own life as well as the lives of all those he loves. A wounded Confederate soldier appears at the family’s Virginia farm, and Haswell convinces his mother and sister to take the man in, despite the certain repercussions if the enemy Yankees were to catch them in such a “traitorous” act. Unfortunately, this is precisely what happens, setting off a horrific chain of events that leaves Haswell’s mother dead and the farmhouse burned to the ground.

After leading his younger sister to safety with relatives, Haswell sets out on his journey in search of his older brother, a Confederate soldier. His quest is also a passage into manhood, as he experiences the last bloody days of the Civil War. Skillful storytelling, well-developed characters, and a fast-paced plot distinguish this compelling family story by an award-winning author.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-Through the eyes of Haswell Colby Magruder, readers see and experience the horrors of the Civil War. Set in Shenandoah, VA, the story opens as the 13-year-old agrees to hide a wounded Confederate soldier. The Yankees' discovery of the young man on the Magruder farm and their subsequent retaliation starts a sequence of events that culminates with Haswell's escape with his seven-year-old sister, and his later solo journey in search of his older brother, who is fighting in the war. Although the main characters are from the South, Hahn succeeds in writing about the horrors of war without really taking sides. War is the villain here, and people from both sides are its victims. This is a wonderfully written story peopled by believable, three-dimensional characters who exhibit fear, courage, love, hate, compassion, prejudice, and understanding. The drama of the Civil War and the fine storytelling and characterization hook readers from the outset. As in Promises to the Dead (Clarion, 2000), Hahn deals here with the exercise of compassion in the face of danger. This selection is an excellent choice to add to other historical fiction on the Civil War such as Gary Paulsen's Soldier's Heart (Delacorte, 1998) and Ann Rinaldi's Amelia's War (Scholastic, 1999).
Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. Like Hahn's Stepping on the Cracks (1991), this stirring novel tells a war story through the eyes of a young person. It's the end of the Civil War in Northern Virginia, and 13-year-old Haswell Magruder suddenly finds himself the head of his family. After Haswell hides a wounded Confederate soldier, the Yankees attack Haswell's mother and destroy the farm. The boy and his younger sister escape. Haswell leaves his sister with relatives in town and rides across the war-torn countryside in search of his wounded older brother. Hahn brings readers up close to the slaughter on both sides, presenting a picture of ordinary men who are not at all sure why they are fighting. It's odd that slavery is barely mentioned despite the huge cast. The action is fast and furious, and kids will be caught up in the story of soldiers and civilians and the horror of "simply following orders." Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; None edition (May 19, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618181903
• ISBN-13: 978-0618181902
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #440,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Downing Hahn, a former children's librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories, including Deep and Dark and Dangerous and The Old Willis Place. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her two cats, Oscar and Rufus.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The War's Journey, September 5, 2009

By 

Ruth Thompson "Weaver of Tales" (Venice, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hear the Wind Blow: A Novel of the Civil War (Hardcover)

Haswell and his sister Rachel are left on their own because he tried to help a Confederate soldier. He sees that Mary is safe with relatives and he tries to find his brother Avery who is with the Confederate Army. Avery is a bag of bones with no shoes and wants to return home. This is a good story of all the trials that Haswell has with his journey through the Civil War. By the Author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above the River"