Customer Reviews

Numbering All the Bones

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am a teacher who read this book and several others in an evening to preview them for students. Most chapter books for kids these days are "much ado about nothing". They don't make sense, are chatty, contrived and I could throw them in the garbage after finishing them. This book on the other hand had a well developed character, with deep thoughts and emotions and was quite mature as circumstances compelled the character to be. I would read this book with my middle school and older students and believe they would get a lot out of it. Thank god for Ann Rinaldi! If only other children's writers were able to write and develop characters like she could.
As for the 12 year old that found the book confusing, it was probably not a book to read on your own just yet. It would have been more enjoyable to share with a teacher, classmates or your parents as they could help you with the background information needed to understand the story.

This book is called Numbering All The Bones. It is a historical fiction book written by Ann Rinaldi.
Eulina is a house slave, during the Civil War. She has been through many hardships, some of which being, her younger brother, Zeke, being sold away,her older brother, Neddy, who ran away to join the Northern Army,and her mother, dying of illness.Eulinda is torn between her master, who is also her true father,and her fellow slaves. She is faced with the choice of staying in the South or going Notrh , and being free.
I think this book is one of the best books I have read by Ann Rinaldi. This book will appeal most to those who like historical fiction and books that expess African American slaves' journey through life.

genre: historical fiction
audience: Advanced 5th grade readers and above

Eulinda, plantation house servant during the Civil War, grapples and discovers her identity and purpose as she transcends her plight and takes charge of her destiny.

I wonder if Ann Rinaldi is the first writer for children to uncover the secret of the sexual exploitation of black women by their white owners during America's period of infamy? Mildred Taylor's THE LAND and Richard Peck's A RIVER BETWEEN US have followed. I applaud her.

Southern society, the horrors of the Andersonville prison, and redemption by the remarkable Clara Barton color this engrossing story. An author's note contributes background for young readers but could do more.

This is my first Rinaldi book to read. I was mesmerized. I look forward to reading her more.

"I miss you Neddy. You were my favorite brother." In the book Numbering All The Bones by Ann Rinaldi the protagonist was a slave named Eulinda. I'll bet you would not like to be a slave, but you would probably want to be freed. I know I love my freedom.
"If I can go to America with Analee then I will be free." Eulinda and Analee were on the verge of finding a way to get Analee's husband to America. Eulinda donned a new coat to give to Analee's husband. They were like a pair of depressed clowns trying to be happy again.
"Mr. Hampton can we go to the jail to find Neddy." Eulinda and Mistis plus everyone else went to the jail to find Neddy, Eulinda's older brother. Mr. Hampton goes to the jail the next day and gives the jail food so the people in it don't starve to death.
"What ya'll doin' up here in this part of the hill. You don't have a pass you are not allowed to be up here. If you don't leave in ten seconds you are going to lose this dog you got with ya." Eulinda had a dog, named Otis, which was taken away from her. Then, she asked if they could go to the jail. She didn't tell them Otis was there. Otis is a small fluffy dog that looks very dirty. Otis was a very white dog when they got her. Now he is a brownish color. He is probably a light-brown color now. Eulinda has loved that dog for so long and she wants to get it back from the jail. They might get it back but it also could get eaten and stewed. The people in the jail would like to have that for dinner.
If you want to find out more about Mr. Hampton and Eulinda I invite and encourage you to read Numbering All The Bones by Ann Rinaldi.

The best book I have ever read. How I found out about this book is because my teacher made me read it and usually when a teacher makes me read a book I hate it and don't want to read it, but this time it was amazing. I had so much fun reading it. I didn't want to put the book down. I just loved it. I was finished with the book when my lit circle group was only on pages 13-100.

The book is about a 13 year old house slave who lives on a plantation and was born as the plantation owner's daughter. Her mother died when she was 6 years old and now she is 13, free and trying to make herself come true.

I have read almost every one of Ann Rinaldi's books, and have loved every one of them, including this one.
The story was very interesting, historically accurate, and was still able to tell a wonderful story.
I recommend this book to any Ann Rinaldi fan, you won't be dissapointed. Even if you've never read any of her books, you will still enjoy this one. She's a fantastic author. Read this one! Also, An Acquaintence With Darkness by Ann Rinaldi is a great book, my favorite.

I loved this book!It was reccomended by the librarian at my school. I was surprised that slave masters had affairs with their slaves. My opinion on the book has no effect on what you think, read it for yourself!

Basically the book takes place in 1864. It is about a slave girl before and after she was given freedom. She is named Eudlina. She ends up working for Clara Barton. I wont give away anymore.

:)READ IT FOR YOURSELF!!!:)

I think the book was excellent because it taught me more about slavery and the old days. The setting is in southern alabama. The problem of this book is a girl fighting to keep her father alive and still do her work. I really enjoyed this book.

This book is what may be the most boring, tortuous 176 pages I have ever read! What's so bad about it is that it's so hard to follow, even for someone who enjoys reading. Normally, I appreciate books about the Civil War, but this book was just atrocious. Instead of "Numbering All the Bones", I was "Numbering All the Pages Until the End".

I have always loved the work of Ann Rinaldi. Her ability to bring her characters alive while taking the reader on the journey back in time. I was first introduced to her work when my daughter had to read several historical fiction books for her History class. She didn't seem to like what I had on my shelves so I went to her History teacher. She recommended I get her some books by Ann Rinaldi. She said she had never met anyone who didn't like to read work by this author. She was correct. This was the turning point in my daughter's reading life. I, the reading teacher had not been able to get her to crack a book for pleasure and yet this teacher had hit on the one author who would do that.

In Numbering All the Bones we meet Eulinda, a house slave. She was much more than that. Her master was also her father. We start off reading about the accusation of a theft by the master's first wife to get back at Eulinda for being her husband's daughter. This resulted in the mistress selling off Eulinda's youngest brother, who had found the ring. To pay her back, her older brother actually steals the ring for future use. When the mistress dies, the master remarries. His new wife seems to treat Eulinda like an actual member of the family, that is when it is convenient for her in the presence of her husband. As the Civil War Winds down changes take place in the master's house. With a prison down the road from their plantation, the mistress has found a way to make money off of the situation. At the end of the war a confederate soldier has come to make things right in the abandoned prison. It is learned that 13,000 soldiers, both black and white died there, including Eulinda's brother. When she finds him she finds the ring and goes about trying to set things right. This is done with the help of Clara Barton.

I felt so sorry for Eulinda being in a situation where she felt she didn't fit into either world. Although she was a fictional character, most of the other characters were not. I am sure there were many people like Eulinda during this time who took a stand for what was right. This is probably one of the best Civil War book I have read in a long time and one I will proudly recommend to my students. I gave this a rating of 5 out of 5