A Soldier’s Secret: The Incredible True Story of Sarah Edmonds, Civil War Hero by Marissa Moss
ISBN: 978-1-41970-4277
Moss, M. (2012). A soldier’s secret: The incredible true story of sarah edmonds, civil war hero. New York: Amulet Books.
Plot Summary
Sarah Emma Edmonds was born in Canada to a farmer and his wife. She had a sickly brother who was unable to work in the fields, so Sarah took over the responsibility of working with her father. Mr. Edmonds was abusive to his wife and son, but never mistreated his daughter. When Sarah was fourteen, her father sold her favorite horse to a neighboring farmer. Sarah was devastated and slept in the barn. Two years later Sarah’s father told her he had arranged a marriage between Sarah and the man who purchased her horse, an old man. This strengthened Sarah’s resolve and she ran away, disguising herself as a boy and named herself Frank Thompson. Sarah’s travels took her to the United States where she convinced a storekeeper to hire her as a travelling salesman. She was happy with this job until the Civil War began and Sarah knew she had to join the Union cause. Much of the continuing novel is about Sarah’s time in the army. While a soldier, she served as a battlefield nurse, regular soldier, mail carrier, personal secretary, and spy. Sarah was captured by the Confederates, and had a few close calls about her gender, but always managed to keep her secret. As Frank, she made close friends for the first time in her life, and found it increasingly difficult to keep Sarah to herself. As the war drags on, and she falls in love with a fellow soldier, will Sarah make it to the end and see the Union victory?
Critical Evaluation
A moving novel based on the real-life experiences of Sarah Emma Edmonds. Moss used Edmonds’ autobiography and other first-person documents to create a convincing first-person narrative of a woman living as a man and fighting in the Civil War. The first-person point-of-view serves to make Edmonds a relatable individual despite her living over 150 years ago. Her daily worries of being discovered as a woman and her friendships with fellow soldiers are all the more meaningful in first-person. As Edmonds learns about war, friendships, and enemies, the reader is right beside her. Realistic in the portrayal of wartime atrocities, Moss never goes so far as to be gratuitous. Amputations, illness, pain, and death were a daily experience of Civil War soldiers, and are presented as realities in a way appropriate for a young adult novel. Appendices include letters, timelines, and photographs to illustrate the historical nature of the novel. Readers will also appreciate character biographies that explain who the real person was, and what really happened to them after the war. Some battle descriptions were a bit long, but in a novel about war, were a necessary aspect. A woman born before her time, Edmonds was a brave and loyal individual, dedicated to her adoptive country and people.
Reader’s Annotation
Sarah Emma Edmonds decides to dress as a man, call herself Frank Thompson, and join the Union Army during the Civil War. Acting as a soldier, nurse, mail carrier, and spy will she be able to keep her secret?
About the Author
Marissa Moss sent her first book to publishers when she was nine, but it was rejected. She tried again as an adult and had to wait five years before one of her stories was accepted. Moss has now written over 40 books, and continues to writes. She is most well known for her Amelia’s Notebook series in which a grade school student chronicles her life in black-and-white composition notebooks. Amelia was not planned as a series, but it was so popular Moss decided to write more. Moss typically writes for elementary-aged students, and A Soldier’s Secret is her first novel for young adults.
Marissa Moss has loved writing and drawing since she was a young child. She was born in Pennsylvania, but moved to southern California when she was two. Moss attended San Jose State University and studied art, but disagreed with the teachers and their philosophies. She transferred to the University of California, Berkeley and changed her major to history. She credits these classes as teaching her how to research, very helpful for her historical books. After graduating, Moss took classes at the California College of Arts and Crafts, but it was too expensive and time-consuming to complete another degree. Moss waited tables for a while until her first book was accepted, and considers herself fortunate to have made a career out of writing.
Genre
Historical Fiction
Curriculum Ties
Civil War/Women’s History
Booktalking
Frank Thompson has a secret, a big one. He is a soldier, mail carrier, and spy for the Union Army. Frank Thompson is also female.
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 6th grade
IL: 8th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include a female disguising herself as a man.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I felt I needed more historical fiction books, and I enjoyed Marissa Moss’ Amelia series when I was younger.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
Moss, M. (n.d.). Marissa moss: Author-illustrator. Retrieved from http://www.marissamoss.com/abouttheauthor.php
ISBN: 978-1-41970-4277
Moss, M. (2012). A soldier’s secret: The incredible true story of sarah edmonds, civil war hero. New York: Amulet Books.
Plot Summary
Sarah Emma Edmonds was born in Canada to a farmer and his wife. She had a sickly brother who was unable to work in the fields, so Sarah took over the responsibility of working with her father. Mr. Edmonds was abusive to his wife and son, but never mistreated his daughter. When Sarah was fourteen, her father sold her favorite horse to a neighboring farmer. Sarah was devastated and slept in the barn. Two years later Sarah’s father told her he had arranged a marriage between Sarah and the man who purchased her horse, an old man. This strengthened Sarah’s resolve and she ran away, disguising herself as a boy and named herself Frank Thompson. Sarah’s travels took her to the United States where she convinced a storekeeper to hire her as a travelling salesman. She was happy with this job until the Civil War began and Sarah knew she had to join the Union cause. Much of the continuing novel is about Sarah’s time in the army. While a soldier, she served as a battlefield nurse, regular soldier, mail carrier, personal secretary, and spy. Sarah was captured by the Confederates, and had a few close calls about her gender, but always managed to keep her secret. As Frank, she made close friends for the first time in her life, and found it increasingly difficult to keep Sarah to herself. As the war drags on, and she falls in love with a fellow soldier, will Sarah make it to the end and see the Union victory?
Critical Evaluation
A moving novel based on the real-life experiences of Sarah Emma Edmonds. Moss used Edmonds’ autobiography and other first-person documents to create a convincing first-person narrative of a woman living as a man and fighting in the Civil War. The first-person point-of-view serves to make Edmonds a relatable individual despite her living over 150 years ago. Her daily worries of being discovered as a woman and her friendships with fellow soldiers are all the more meaningful in first-person. As Edmonds learns about war, friendships, and enemies, the reader is right beside her. Realistic in the portrayal of wartime atrocities, Moss never goes so far as to be gratuitous. Amputations, illness, pain, and death were a daily experience of Civil War soldiers, and are presented as realities in a way appropriate for a young adult novel. Appendices include letters, timelines, and photographs to illustrate the historical nature of the novel. Readers will also appreciate character biographies that explain who the real person was, and what really happened to them after the war. Some battle descriptions were a bit long, but in a novel about war, were a necessary aspect. A woman born before her time, Edmonds was a brave and loyal individual, dedicated to her adoptive country and people.
Reader’s Annotation
Sarah Emma Edmonds decides to dress as a man, call herself Frank Thompson, and join the Union Army during the Civil War. Acting as a soldier, nurse, mail carrier, and spy will she be able to keep her secret?
About the Author
Marissa Moss sent her first book to publishers when she was nine, but it was rejected. She tried again as an adult and had to wait five years before one of her stories was accepted. Moss has now written over 40 books, and continues to writes. She is most well known for her Amelia’s Notebook series in which a grade school student chronicles her life in black-and-white composition notebooks. Amelia was not planned as a series, but it was so popular Moss decided to write more. Moss typically writes for elementary-aged students, and A Soldier’s Secret is her first novel for young adults.
Marissa Moss has loved writing and drawing since she was a young child. She was born in Pennsylvania, but moved to southern California when she was two. Moss attended San Jose State University and studied art, but disagreed with the teachers and their philosophies. She transferred to the University of California, Berkeley and changed her major to history. She credits these classes as teaching her how to research, very helpful for her historical books. After graduating, Moss took classes at the California College of Arts and Crafts, but it was too expensive and time-consuming to complete another degree. Moss waited tables for a while until her first book was accepted, and considers herself fortunate to have made a career out of writing.
Genre
Historical Fiction
Curriculum Ties
Civil War/Women’s History
Booktalking
Frank Thompson has a secret, a big one. He is a soldier, mail carrier, and spy for the Union Army. Frank Thompson is also female.
Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 6th grade
IL: 8th grade and up
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include a female disguising herself as a man.
In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.
Why Included
I felt I needed more historical fiction books, and I enjoyed Marissa Moss’ Amelia series when I was younger.
Others in the Series
N/A
References
Moss, M. (n.d.). Marissa moss: Author-illustrator. Retrieved from http://www.marissamoss.com/abouttheauthor.php
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