About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is starting to ask complex questions about the moral gray areas of history or is processing the weight of significant life transitions. While set during the final days of the American Civil War, the story is deeply rooted in the universal experience of sibling bonds and the resilience required to survive when the world as you knew it has vanished. It provides a safe space to discuss how people maintain their humanity and hope in the face of intense hardship. Following thirteen-year-old Haswell and his younger sister, the narrative explores themes of grief, bravery, and the kindness of strangers. Parents will find it an excellent tool for discussing historical empathy and the realities of war without it feeling gratuitously dark. It is best suited for middle schoolers who are ready for a realistic, grounded look at survival and the difficult choices people make during times of crisis. This is a story about finding the grit to keep walking even when the path ahead is uncertain.
