The Slopes of War [Paperback]

Norah Perez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 16, 2008

Buck Summerhill is a young soldier from West Virginia. He faces the horrors of the battle of Gettysburg knowing that his two cousins, Custis and Mason, may be fighting against him in the Army of Northern Virginia. The Slopes of War is a fast-paced, panoramic story of a family divided in loyalty but equally affected by the dangers and sometimes senseless brutality of battle.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8–10—Focusing on the few days of the Battle at Gettysburg, this novel creates a clear picture of what it might have been like to be a part of this period of history. The lives of characters fighting for both sides of the war, as well as those who are Gettysburg residents, all intertwine as readers observe the events as they unfold. Bekah, a teenager, helps her mother, who houses and cares for wounded soldiers from both armies, while she worries about her brother, a Union soldier, and her cousin and love interest, who fights for the Confederacy. The point of view switches among these three young people throughout the novel. Actual historical figures also appear in the story, giving it a feeling of realism. This novel does not hide the blood, guts, and heartbreak of war, nor does it underplay the strength of the human will. Rosemary Wells's Red Moon at Sharpsburg (Viking, 2007) similarly showed the realities of the Civil War but with more distinguished writing. Perez's book has a faster pace and centers on a specific battle. It's a good follow-up for those who enjoyed Wells's book.—Sharon Senser McKellar, Oakland Public Library, CA
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Review

“Through skillful selection of details, fidelity to the historical record, and calculated shifts in perspective, the author has created an intensely moving account that becomes a commentary on the tragic consequences of war.” (Horn Book )

"A compelling and demanding novel." (Booklist )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; Reissue edition (June 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 054701614X
• ISBN-13: 978-0547016146
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Military & Wars

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Flawed but reasonably good young adult novel, May 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Slopes of War (Paperback)

Perez' novel is a young adult novel in a similar genre to _Johnny Tremain_: historical fiction with a considerable amount of gore. The scenes of violence in this story, which centers on the Battle of Gettysburg, are well-written and appropriate for the subject but I would think they would be too graphic for some young readers. Perez presents a Shaara-esque Gettysburg with a befuddled Lee and a Longstreet in the right. Her research fails her at one point as she places the Stonewall Brigade in the night assault on Culp's Hill (they were not engaged there until the next day) and the Second Virginia with the rest of the brigade (they were detailed as skirmishers on the far left throughout the battle, which is why they had only one man, Wesley Culp, killed in action). Most readers, of course, won't even notice this error. They may, on the other hand, find her presentation of young people involved on opposite sides of the war a little shallow, and her conclusion with the Gettysburg Address a little routine. Moments of interesting, original language do, however, lift this book somewhat above the general swamp.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Informational, November 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Slopes of War (Paperback)

I thought that this book started out boring and almost as soon as the war started, it picked up into a fast paced "horror" novel of what it would be like to live in this time period. I had to read this book for a college course and i thouht it was a great read for us and I expect that even kids will enjoy history in the form of a story!

5.0 out of 5 stars The Slopes of War by N Perez, July 12, 2011

By 

Lynn Castiglione (Phoenix, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Slopes of War (Paperback)

Wonderful historical fiction that lends realism and depth to the Civil War and this time in our history. This novel will be added to our Core Knowledge curriculum this coming school year.