The Novels
Book One: Send ‘Em South
The fighting had not yet begun. Many people hoped it never would; some people felt it was only a matter of time and a few were even trying to force it right away. The lines had been drawn and the sides chosen: Free, slave, rich, poor, northerner, southerner, abolitionist, immigrant, Indian. They all had a stake in the battle that someday would come. The year was 1858 and the people of the United States of America were desperately trying to avoid a civil war. In a world of hatred, fear and mistrust, two young people tried to make sense of it all. David, the son of an Irish immigrant father and abolitionist mother was treated like an outsider in the neighborhood. His...
Read MoreBook Two: On The Trail of John Brown’s Body
In Book One of the Young Heroes of History Series, David and George Adams were caught up in an adventure that brought them face to face with a fugitive slave. In Book Two of the Series, we find them getting deeper into the slavery crisis. The only person who can help David is his father John who lives in the dangerous, violent territory nicknamed “Bleeding Kansas”. David runs away to join his father, unaware that George is following him. Unfortunately, neither boy knows that for years, David’s parents have been involved with the infamous John Brown and his violent plans to end slavery On the Trail of John Brown’s Body is an adventure/mystery story...
Read MoreBook Three: Off to Fight
Disgusted by the violence of the John Brown raid, George Adams adopts the state of Virginia and its cause as his own. As a boy growing up in 1860, however, all George wants to do is find friends and be accepted. When he joins a gang, and they include him in all of their mischief, George is ecstatic to finally be one of the boys. Unfortunately, when Fort Sumter is fired upon and Virginia leaves the Union, George finds all of his friends signing up for the war. As a loyal member of the gang, George goes along with them and signs up to fight even though he is only 14. Unfortunately for George, the war does not go well for the South. Even though they win the battles,...
Read MoreBook 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 MoreBook Five: No Girls Allowed
It was a man’s war. Men had started it. Men would fight it. Men would end it. At least that is what everyone thought. With Civil War destroying the country, Mary and Lynn decide to help even if they aren’t wanted. Mary joins an aid society and helps to heal the wounded. Lynn disguises herself as a boy and fights alongside the men and boys of the army. Each of them faces different challenges as they struggle to be treated as equals. During the Battle of Antietam, these two very different girls, who choose two very different paths find themselves forced to work together to not only save the United States of America but to somehow take a stand...
Read MoreBook Six: Crossroads at Gettysburg
Crossroads at Gettysburg, the sixth book in the Young Heroes of History series, reaches a climax at Gettysburg. After four years of separation, the “heroes of history” are together again. But will their reunion be one of joy and laughter or death and destruction? In the summer of 1863, George Adams returns to the North. Unfortunately for his cousins, Thomas and Mary, George is not here for a friendly visit. As a soldier in the Army of Northern Virginia, George is determined to put an end to the war. George’s commander is the famous General Robert E. Lee, a commander who has never lost a battle. Realizing that he must take the war into Yankee territory, Lee boldly...
Read MoreBook Seven: Breaking the Rules
In the 1800s, even war had rules. Soldiers fought soldiers. Battles took place on open fields. Prisoners were treated with respect. And African Americans didn’t fight. But by 1863 the Civil War had become so deadly that both sides had begun breaking the rules. They attacked cities. They spied on each other. They had turned what was supposed to be a short war into an all-out life or death struggle. In the seventh book of the Young Heroes of History series, Randy Lightfoot is an African American living in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Like most boys he is concerned with making friends and trying to stay out of trouble. The rules of war could not be further from his mind....
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