Watcher in the Piney Woods (American Girl History Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Elizabeth McDavid Jones (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Series: American Girl History Mysteries

In 1865, while helping her family keep their Virginia farm going through the end of the Civil War, twelve-year-old Cassie meets a Confederate deserter and a Yankee prisoner of war and tries to discover who has been stealing from the farm.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7-The final year of the Civil War has brought hard times to much of the South, including the Willis homestead in southern Virginia. Day-to-day problems are commonplace, but nothing could prepare the family for the devastating news of oldest brother Jacob's death in battle. Then, while grieving privately in the nearby woods, 12-year-old Cassie is terrorized by a crazed and violent Confederate deserter, escaping only because of her dog's courage. A search indicates the man has moved on, but after a short time, things inexplicably begin to go missing from the house and farm. Cassie wonders if the family is really safe, and determines to find out why she often feels she is being watched. The puzzle is worked out in an entertaining, if lightweight, plot, offering enjoyable leisure reading. The appended six-page historical view of 1865 gives an appealing, concise glimpse at a pivotal year in U.S. history, accompanied by excellent black-and-white and full-color illustrations from the period.
Starr E. Smith, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 145 pages
• Publisher: American Girl (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584850914
• ISBN-13: 978-1584850915
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,890,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A mystery set during the end of the Civil War., September 17, 2000

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Watcher in the Piney Woods (American Girl History Mysteries) (Paperback)

Keeping their small Virginia farm running throughout the four long years of the Civil War has been difficult for twelve-year-old Cassie Willis and her family, especially after her father and her oldest brother Jacob leave to fight the Yankees. In the final days of the war, the family is devestated to learn that Jacob has been killed in battle. Overcome with grief at the death of her favorite brother, Cassie runs off into the woods to be alone. There, she encounters a deserter from the Confederate army who threatens her and her family. Then things start vanishing from the farm. At first, Cassie is sure the deserter is responsible. Then she and her other older brother, fourteen-year-old Philip, discover a young Yankee soldier who has escaped from a Confederate prison, and they decide he's to blame. Only the evidence begins to point to someone completely different than either of them could imagine. I highly reccomend this to those who read and enjoyed the other books in this series. It was exciting and suspensful, and the main character, Cassie, was very brave and resourceful.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Civil War Suspense, May 1, 2001

By 

AntiochAndy "antiochandy" (Antioch, CA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Watcher in the Piney Woods (American Girl History Mysteries) (Paperback)

Set in Virginia in early 1865, "Watcher In The Piney Woods" is the story of twelve-year-old Cassie Willis and her family. With Cassie's father and oldest brother away fighting for the South, keeping the family farm going has been a struggle. Then, the family is devastated when a letter arrives informing them that Jacob, Cassie's brother, has been killed. Cassie goes into the woods to be alone, but is grabbed by a deserter who is using her secret thicket for his hideout. Cassie escapes, but not before the man threatens Cassie and her family. After that, things begin to disappear from the farm, and Cassie gets the ominous feeling that somebody is watching her.

This is one of the better books in the "history mystery" series. Out of the eight we've read, my daughter says she rates this one second only to "The Smuggler's Treasure". I'm not surprised. A threat of real danger is established early in this story, and the tension is maintained throughout most of the book. The reader is kept wondering what is going to happen next, and that makes for a fun and entertainig read. As with the other stories in the series, this one also has something to teach about the history of the time and provides good role models for young readers. It's a good book for kids, and I recommend it highly to both kids and their parents.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mistery in the Civil War, October 19, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Watcher in the Piney Woods (American Girl History Mysteries) (Hardcover)

The time is 1865, near the end of the Civil War. In a devastating letter from General Johnston, 12 year old Cassie learns that her 14 year old brother Jacob was killed while fighting in the Civil War. Devastated Cassie tells herself that the letter is lying. That Jacob is not dead. Is it true that Jacob is dead or has there been some mistake? So she decides to return to the secret thicket she and Jacob loved and shared.
While she is there she stumbles upon a soldier's button, which leads to an encounter with a deserter. The deserter threatens her and tries to kill her but she escapes. At the same time, someone has been stealing from her family's farm. She has to find out who the robber is.
My opinion on this book is that it is very well written mystery. If you stop at almost any chapter you will get suspense. My favorite part is when Cassie finds our what happende to her brother Jacob. This is one of the best books I've ever read.