William Henry is a Fine Name (Civil War Series #1) [Paperback]

Cathy Gohlke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

They told him his best friend wasn't human. Robert's father assisted the Underground Railroad. His mother adamantly opposed abolition. His best friend was a black boy named William Henry. As a nation neared its boiling point, Robert found himself in his own painful conflict. The one thing he couldn't do was nothing at all. William Henry is a coming-of-age story about a 12-year-old boy--and an entire country--that comes face to face with the evils of society, even within the walls of the church. In the safety of an uplifting friendship, he discovers the hope of a brighter day.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The shadow of a face in the window.The quilt on the line.Howling dogs. Threatening intruders.And a railroad that runs underground.Thirteen-year-old Robert had known little of these things growing up. His southern adolescence consisted of his mother, who viewed slavery as a natural part of life, and his father, whose late night disappearances were becoming more frequent and disruptive.Then there is William Henry, Robert's best friend. They did everything together¿until the summer of 1859. That's when Robert realizes William Henry knows more about these late night mysteries than he does. It's also when Robert is told that William Henry is less than human . . . because he is black.Now Robert must decide for himself where he stands on slavery. With his loved ones pitted against each other, he struggles to understand justice and wonders how high a price he is willing to pay for it. And then he gets the chance to find out.

About the Author

CATHY GOHLKE has had her writing featured in the books of Chicken Soup for the Single’s Soul

and My Turn to Care: Affirmations for Caregivers of Aging Parents, as well as in magazines like

Woman’s World. Cathy lives in Elkton, Maryland with her husband. This is her first novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Moody Publishers; New Edition edition (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802499732
• ISBN-13: 978-0802499738
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #844,746 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cathy Gohlke is the two-time Christy Award-winning author of William Henry is a Fine Name and I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires, which also won the American Christian Fiction Writers' Book of the Year Award and was listed by Library Journal as one of the Best Books of 2008.
Cathy has worked as a school librarian, drama director, and director of children's and education ministries. When not traipsing the hills and dales of historic sites, she, her husband, and their dog, Reilly, make their home on the banks of the Laurel Run in Maryland. Visit her website at www.cathygohlke.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Moving Story, December 21, 2006

By 

Barbara Warren - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William Henry is a Fine Name (Civil War Series #1) (Paperback)

This is a powerful story about two boys, William Henry, who is black, and Robert Leslie Glover, who is white. The two are best friends and the setting is Pre-Civil War days. The Henry was taken from Patrick Henry, who fought for freedom, and William Henry thinks it's a fine name.
Robert didn't understand the evils of slavery until the year he turned thirteen and everything changed for him and for William Henry. He learned why his parents fought so much and why his best friend knew more about what was going on than he did.
Cathy Gohlke has written a fascinating, gripping story about the terrible wrongs of slavery and the courage of those willing to fight against it. The characters are so well developed, the emotions so overwhelming that the reader is pulled into the story from the first page to the end. This story will grip your heart. It's more than just a book, it's an experience.
It's hard to believe this is Cathy Gohlke's first novel. Expect more from this very talented writer.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Story!, October 16, 2006

By 

Carrie Turansky (Lawrenceville, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William Henry is a Fine Name (Civil War Series #1) (Paperback)

Thirteen-year-old Robert has been raised in a family divided on the issue of slavery, and as he grows up he must decide where he stands and what he will do about it. Through his friendship with his best friend William, time spent in the south with his grandfather, and seeing first-hand the affects of slavery he chooses to become involved with the Underground Railroad. Cathy Gohlkey's first novel is a beautifully written treasure! It can be enjoyed by both adults and teens. The characters and events of the story are so powerful they will stay with you long after you finish the book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining read that teaches, September 23, 2008

By 

Susan Stompf "SusieLewes" (Lewes, DE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William Henry is a Fine Name (Civil War Series #1) (Paperback)

WILLIAM HENRY WAS a FINE NAME by Cathy Gohlke was a good novel to say the least, and, it makes history and the Underground Railroad come to life. I am not by any means a history buff, but now that I am getting older, history is more interesting to me, and this book flamed the fire for knowledge. Read this book and then go to Ms. Gohlke's newest book, "I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires" to complete the story. This newest book is even better than the first!