Why read Rifles for Watie?

Book cover of Rifles for Watie

Book description

Winner of the Newbery Medal * An ALA Notable Children’s Book * Winner of the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award

A captivating and richly detailed novel about one young soldier who saw the Civil War from both sides and lived to tell the tale.

Earnest, plain-spoken sixteen-year-old Jeff Bussey has finally…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Rifles for Watie as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

M. Carolyn Steele

Author

I picked this easy-to-read novel because I’m an Okie! And, while I know of the few battles fought in Kansas, Missouri, and Indian Territory (we weren’t called Oklahoma until 1907), they are not the usual Civil War locations written about.

I liked the major character, a young boy driven to sign with the Union Army after the family farm was attacked by Confederates. That happened in my family (as it did for many if you study family history), stirring sympathy and anger.

I loved that you not only got the Union but the Confederate, as well as Stand Watie’s Cherokee…

From M. Carolyn's list on The best Civil War books that aren’t all about blood and guts, but interesting everyday people (with a dash of gore).