Across Five Aprils

Across Five Aprils                *****

by Irene Hunt

Across Five Aprils is about a family during the Civil War. Matt and Ellen’s son Jethro sat at the kitchen table watching his father and brothers talk about the war that might happen. When his brothers started to go off to war, Jethro was left to do the work in the field. He and his sister Jenny look at maps to see where their brothers might be fighting. They are also worried about Shadrach Yale, a friend who is very close to them and who Jenny loves. 

The family gets word that one of the brothers has been killed in fighting. Some people come to their house looking for Ed, one of Jethro’s brothers. He has deserted the army. Jethro finds his brother hiding in the forest. Ed tells Jethro he would go back to the army if he could. There is word that Shadrach is very wounded. Jenny is very worried that she will not make it to Washington in time.

  Will Ed go back to the army? Will Jenny get to Shadrach? Will the family every be the same again? You will have to read Across Five Aprils to find out. So, if you are ready to read a challenging but still a wonderful book, get out Across Five Aprils.   

I think that fifth grade and up would like this book because it is a challenge to read.     

By Sabrina S.