Customer Reviews

Mountain Valor

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mountain Valor is written by Gloria Houston, and it is set in the Appalachian Mountains. Valor is named after a medal that her father received. Her father and one of her brothers were fighting for the South, while her uncle Tom and her other brother were fighting for the North. The family hated to be divided by the awful war. Jed was her cousin and he was Tom's son. He was left in North Carolina as the man of the house even though he was 10 and Valor was 11. Valor didn't like acting like a lady, instead she wanted to be out hunting with Jed but Savannah tried to put a stop to it. Valor had a special hiding place whenever the soldiers came to her house. Kirk (red beard) threatened her family and hurt her mama. Ever since this incident Valor wanted revenge. Later on, Valor cut her hair and joined the forces so that she could get revenge from the redbeard. She had help from the witch lady and changed her name to Valiant. She met a cook for the soldiers and his name was Randall and she ended up helping him cook a bear that he had killed. I think that Valor liked Randall because she said that she wished he knew she was a girl. She left the soldiers in the middle of the night and let the livestock that they had stole out of their pin. She went to the witch lady's house to sleep for a bit and then she finally made it home. She was ill for a while and she slept a lot. Her Papa finally came home and he was very proud of his little girl.

I really enjoyed reading this book because it identified strong family ties. I have never been much of a history person, but this book helped me understand the lives of the families that experienced the hardships of the Civil War. Mountain Valor is a historical fiction novel that is based on a true story. Houston writes most of her stories from her own cultural background in the Appalachian Mountains.

There are many instructional ideas that can be done with this book. You could keep a journal of what your feelings would be through these hard times. If you are female, you will write from Valor's point of view, and if you are male, you will write from Jed's point of view. You could also use this book to introduce a history lesson on the Civil War. Students will be able to understand Civil War lessons more effectively when presented with this wonderful novel. You should check out some of Gloria Houston's other great works such as; Littlejim's Dreams, Bright Freedom's Song, The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, But No Candy, My Great Aunt Arizona, and Littlejim's Gift. These books are all historical fiction, and they resemble the lives of Gloria and her family members.

Mountain Valor is a book about a girl named Valor that wants to go to the Civil War. Her father and her brothers went and left her with her mother, maids, and servants. The South is losing, and they need Valor's help. Savannah is one of Valor's maids, and takes care of Valor because her mother is stressed about her husband and sons being away in the war. Savannah is always telling Valor to stop playing with her friends and behaves like a young lady.

The main character in the story is a young playful girl named Valor. She loves adventure and although everyone is always telling her to be a young lady, she ignores them and keeps doing what she's doing. She is very curious. She can be a pest sometimes but she is still a good person. Valor is competitive especially when a boy tells her she can't do something because she's girl.

The problem for Valor is when a red bearded solider, known as Kirk, threatens that her family will not be safe. Valor becomes very upset and tired of the war. She wants her father and brothers to come home. She wants her mother to dance and laugh again. She wants everything to be like it used to before the war started.

To resolve the problem Valor, dresses up like a boy and goes to war. She needs to be careful if she sees her father or brothers to not tell them that it is her. She is very brave to go to war because when her mother finds out she is busted. If she gets shot, she is history. Thankfully, she is safe and was able to get home.

I liked this book a lot and I hope other people would to. It is full of adventure and bravery. When I was reading it, I couldn't put it down. I would recommend this book to someone else. You will bite your fingernails saying in your mind if everything is going to be okay. Mountain Valor is a book about a girl named Valor that wants to go to the Civil War. Her father and her brothers went and left her with her mother, maids, and servants. The South is losing, and they need Valor's help. Savannah is one of Valor's maids, and takes care of Valor because her mother is stressed about her husband and sons being away in the war. Savannah is always telling Valor to stop playing with her friends and behaves like a young lady.

The main character in the story is a young playful girl named Valor. She loves adventure and although everyone is always telling her to be a young lady, she ignores them and keeps doing what she's doing. She is very curious. She can be a pest sometimes but she is still a good person. Valor is competitive especially when a boy tells her she can't do something because she's girl.

The problem for Valor is when a red bearded solider, known as Kirk, threatens that her family will not be safe. Valor becomes very upset and tired of the war. She wants her father and brothers to come home. She wants her mother to dance and laugh again. She wants everything to be like it used to before the war started.

To resolve the problem Valor, dresses up like a boy and goes to war. She needs to be careful if she sees her father or brothers to not tell them that it is her. She is very brave to go to war because when her mother finds out she is busted. If she gets shot, she is history. Thankfully, she is safe and was able to get home.

I liked this book a lot and I hope other people would to. It is full of adventure and bravery. When I was reading it, I couldn't put it down. I would recommend this book to someone else. You will bite your fingernails saying in your mind if everything is going to be okay.

I really enjoy the book Mountain Valor. I would recommend it to people who like adventure and excitement, especially about wars. This book keeps you at the edge of your seat, and you have to read on. You never know what's going to happen. In one exciting scene, the soldiers came into Valor's house and almost found her. I really like this book and would suggest it to you.

Valor, a courageous and willing young girl, whose Father and Brother went to war and left Valor and her Mother at home tending the household out in the country, learns to become stronger and wiser in this book "Mountain Valor". While Valor's Father and Brother are away at war Valor is alone at home with her Mother. They go through many problems but somehow seem to realize that if they work together and always love each other they can complete any task! This book has received 4 and a half stars. The main conflict in this book is that Valor and her mother while at home must survive the wait until the ending of the war. Even though this book received 4 and ½ stars I think that it surely should have received 5! This book is recommended for ages nine to thirteen due to it's voilence and "mountain slang". I liked this book because it kept me wanting to read on and on! This book is filled with fun, danger, mystery, and even a little history! I certainly feel that this is one of the best books I have ever read

My daughter read this book in the third grade (she is now in the sixth) and has loved it ever since. I would like to mention that she has read To Kill a Mockingbird, and that she thinks that they are equal. She thought that it was very well written and that it showed very well how women were treated in the Civil War. Valor soon became one of her role models. This book is a little violent, but she loved in the third grade and she thinks if she was younger she would of loved it, but she watches the news every night, and she used to the crimes that some of the characters committed.

From a Mother/Daughter Book Club in Charlotte, NC: The Daughters: This is a realistic book about a young girl named Valor who lives up to her name. We would encourage 11 year olds and up to read this book. There is a lot of violence in this novel. There is a lot of slang (mountain dialect) in this book also. This girl does a deed that helps her family survive.

The mothers: This is an interesting book highlighting both the mountain life of the times as well as the distinction between boys' vs. girls' activities and duties. Be forewarned, however, that this book details the very worst actions of marauding Civil War soldiers, including violence against women. Overall, this was a worthwhile read.