Nowhere to Turn
Book Four: Nowhere to Turn
Thomas Adams lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with his aunt, uncle and cousins. Thomas’s parents have passed away, and his older brother, David, has disappeared. Farm life is boring and miserable for Thomas, and the neighborhood boys tease him. When the Civil War comes, Thomas thinks this is his chance to get away from the farm. The glory and thrill of going off to fight is exciting to a young farm hand until the battle turns into a slaughter and Thomas runs from the battle. It is only when Thomas is left with nowhere to turn that he finally discovers his bravery. With the help of his faithful dog, Blue, as well as some extraordinary good luck,...
Read MoreCritical Reviews: Nowhere To Turn
From School Library Journal Grade 5-8-In this fourth book in a series set near Philadelphia in 1862, 12-year-old Thomas, an orphan with three siblings, joins the Union army to escape local bullies and the favoritism his aunt and uncle show toward their own children. Even in the army Thomas encounters bullies yet makes some friends and acquires a dog he names Blue. In his first battle, the Union army is defeated; Thomas narrowly escapes and deserts. Back at home he pretends to be injured to help save face but is discovered. He returns to his regiment with Blue where they participate in the battle of Antietam. The hardships on families and the horrors of war come to life....
Read MoreBook Excerpt: Nowhere To Turn
“This war is a joke,” Joey said angrily. He had lived up North all his life and still he couldn’t understand why so many of his friends had gone off to fight for Lincoln. “It all started because Lincoln wouldn’t let the Southerners do what they wanted and then you idiots run off and join up just cause he asks us to.” “We joined to defend our country!” Thomas yelled back. He was beginning to get angry. It was one thing to criticize the way the war was fought but it was a completely different story to make fun of he and his family and friends who had risked their lives to join up. “What country?” ...
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