Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Cathy Gohlke won the Christy award in 2007 for her first novel, William Henry is a Fine Name. I can't imagine a more deserving story.

Thirteen-year-old Robert Glover loves fishing and skunking and skinny-dipping with his best friend William Henry in Elkton, Maryland, 1859. Life is just as good as it can be, except for the howling dogs that wake him at night, his parents' muffled arguments, and his father's middle-of-the-night disappearances. Robert discovers his father is involved in helping slaves flee the south, and his mother--having grown up on a tobacco plantation in North Carolina--views slavery as a natural part of life.

Robert's mother receives word her father is dying, and she and Robert travel to North Carolina. Robert has never met his grandfather, but once the man is healthy, Robert cannot help but dislike him. He sees cruelty he never imagined on Grandfather's tobacco plantation. Back home, slaves are free, but in North Carolina, they are property. Robert must choose between his parents' differing beliefs, and his grandfather's new affection. He searches to know what is right and what, if anything, he can do about it.

I found this book touching and fascinating. I felt as if I was experiencing the Underground Railroad myself. Robert's character is so real and his journey and growth so powerful, he becomes a friend. I want to read more about his life and the wonderful way he lives it and am thrilled there is a sequel, I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires. I highly recommended this novel.

This historical fiction, which follows 13-year-old Robert Glover in 1859, would be good to read with teens for discussions about such topics as justice, slavery, abolition, and the Underground Railroad. Although not graphic, the book does contain some disturbing imagery and adult themes (the book alludes to white men violating female slaves, and several children are the product of that), but they're central to the story and expose the evils of slavery.

Although there are villainous characters in the story, the characters in favor of slavery are not portrayed as one-dimensional. Some of the characters are kind to their slaves but treat them with compassionate condescension. Robert's mother, who grew up on a tobacco plantation in North Carolina and whose ailing father still owns slaves, believes that slavery benefits everyone involved because slaves are not intelligent or capable enough to handle the responsibility of managing their own lives. Robert's father doesn't share his wife's views and works for a man who "took up some of the notions of the Quakers" and freed all of his slaves before Robert was born. Robert wonders where his father has been going in the middle of the night and why he keeps his wagon off the road. He also notices that men go out with packs of dogs hunting for runaway slaves following his father's mysterious late-night outings.

Robert is torn between his parents' conflicting views and is also greatly influenced by his best friend, William Henry, who is black. When Robert and his mother need to suddenly travel back to her childhood home, Robert must decide what he personally believes about justice and what he's willing to sacrifice so that others might have it.

Robert's faith is influenced by his father and others he meets along the way. I was very moved by William Henry Is a Fine Name, and it's definitely a book that stays with you. The historical details made the story come alive, and I'd like to know more real-life stories of those who conducted and traveled the Underground Railroad.

The author came to my church for a book signing and I purchased a paper copy of the book. It was excellent! I couldn't put it down. It contains just enough history and fiction to really keep you interested.

What an outstanding read. I have read much on slavery, both pre and post Civil War but none have affected me as 'William Henry is a Fine Name.' This author has captured the spirit of slave owners as well as abolitionists as this nation was feeling 'growing pains' that made each side sure they were right. You will ride a roller coaster of emotions as two boys set apart by their skin color are joined together by their souls. Just as the Civil War would divide families, the slavery issue in pre civil war also divided them. Can love overcome these obstacles? Can hate?
You might find yourself questioning some of your own feelings about issues that you simply accepted because they were handed down from your family.
The author has very successfully mixed family ties, emotions, traditions, joy and sorrow with a deep down faith that motivates us to do what we feel God is asking of us. I read this in two sessions and am going to immediately start on the second phase of this remarkable story, "I Have Seen Him In The Watchfires." I am so happy the author decided to continue this journey that started with the brotherhood of two young men living in a very difficult time.

I loved this book. I love history anyway, but this novel brings it to life.
It puts a new prospective on the cruelty of slavery prior to the civil war.
You feel like you are actually there with the characters, helping the slaves to escape via the underground railroad.
Awsome read !!!

This is a brilliant coming of age story which follows thirteen-year-old Robert as he grows up in the pre-Civil War era of the Southern United States. Robert is such an innocent boy who loves his mother, father and his best friend William Henry. Robert's mother Caroline, views slavery as normal and Robert takes this same view as his best friend, William Henry, is a free slave, so Robert's compassion for the slaves is palpable. When he witnesses the atrocity of a slave having his foot axed off, Robert can barely stand-by and watch these things happen and not do anything to help.

His father, Charles, disappears at night and Robert has no idea why or where he is going until he learns that William Henry understands very well what these late night jaunts are all about. But other people consider William Henry a nothing because he is a free black. Robert couldn't figure out "...why a man who worked from dawn till dark as hard as Pa did would want to go traipsing off in the middle of the night. He never took a lantern off the hook..."

As Robert matures and continues to witness the terrible violence the slaves must endure, he realizes he himself must decide how he truly feels about slavery and whether he wants to go against the grain of most of his family members on this issue.

Once Robert learns his father is involved with the Underground Railroad and his mother's opposition to slavery, he realizes that he himself must decide to take a firm stand one way or another and he very soon is presented with the opportunity to find out. But Robert is conflicted between family loyalty and doing what he believes is right.

Cathy's writing ability is nothing short of genius! It is so descriptive that I felt like I was morphed into the pages of the book and was a silent and invisible member of the family watching and listening to what was going on. This is one of the best books I've read in a long while and would highly recommend this to everyone. I am about to begin the second book: "I Have Seen Him In The Watchfires", which continues Robert's story and I'm anticipating it's going to be as good as the first!!

This is probably the best juvenile Christian fiction I have read from the current generation. The Christy Award for inspirational fiction that it won in the juvenile and young adult category is well deserved. It is a powerful story of a boy torn between his abolitionist father's activities in the Underground Railroad, his Southern Belle mother, and his free colored best friend, William Henry. Robert must reach his own conclusions about the morality of slavery and if and when it is right to break the law. His thinking and spiritual commitment are aided by visiting preacher, Andrew Goforth. Mr. Goforth's dialogue is more 'preachy' than the story as a whole, but not inappropriate to a nineteenth century preacher. Lots of dramatic tension. Slave owners are portrayed as real people, some evil, but some sincere, even as they are mired in their warped worldview. Along with Robert we have to weigh the pros and cons and expose the false reasoning of slave owners. There are scenes of violence and horror appropriate to the subject matter. I wasn't sure I found the motivation for the trip north completely believable on Robert's part, but it was effective in showing the working on the Underground Railroad.