The Slopes of War

I first read this book in 6th grade (although I wouldn't recommend it for most 6th graders because of the graphic nature) and absolutely loved it, even though I thought it was going to be boring (I got it along with some kind of award at school in the 5th grade). To date, I have read it three times and plan on reading it again since it has been years since I have last read it.

The historical nature of the book is quite accurate, even though most of the characters are fictional. Perez ties in real historical anecdotes with her characters and stories, which makes it feel that much more genuine.

I was fully pleased with this book and would whole-heartedly recommend it.

Perez' novel is a young adult novel in a similar genre to _Johnny Tremain_: historical fiction with a considerable amount of gore. The scenes of violence in this story, which centers on the Battle of Gettysburg, are well-written and appropriate for the subject but I would think they would be too graphic for some young readers. Perez presents a Shaara-esque Gettysburg with a befuddled Lee and a Longstreet in the right. Her research fails her at one point as she places the Stonewall Brigade in the night assault on Culp's Hill (they were not engaged there until the next day) and the Second Virginia with the rest of the brigade (they were detailed as skirmishers on the far left throughout the battle, which is why they had only one man, Wesley Culp, killed in action). Most readers, of course, won't even notice this error. They may, on the other hand, find her presentation of young people involved on opposite sides of the war a little shallow, and her conclusion with the Gettysburg Address a little routine. Moments of interesting, original language do, however, lift this book somewhat above the general swamp.

I thought that this book started out boring and almost as soon as the war started, it picked up into a fast paced "horror" novel of what it would be like to live in this time period. I had to read this book for a college course and i thouht it was a great read for us and I expect that even kids will enjoy history in the form of a story!

If you love battles, battle strategies, and battle grit, this is the Gettysburg book for you. There are some "human interest" portions, but mostly, detailed battle. I teach this book in Jr. High. The kids loathe it, except for the battle-lovers. We joke at the end that we all want t-shirts sporting the phrase "I survived the Slopes of War". But if you like battle scenes, hey, go for it.

This book is one I will probably remember for a while. I recommend this book to ya! i am into the Civil War, and this satisfied me, and at the same time moved me. One suggestion: It should be longer!