About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is beginning to question inherited beliefs or feels caught between conflicting social and political views. It is an ideal choice for a young person grappling with the weight of history and the moral complexity of loyalty during times of crisis. Set during the brutal 1863 Siege of Vicksburg, the story follows Rosemary, an eighteen-year-old English girl who finds herself a resident of the American South. Through her diary-style account, readers witness the intense physical and emotional hardships of a city under siege, from living in caves to surviving on meager rations. The book explores themes of resilience, the blurred lines between enemies, and the development of an independent conscience. It is appropriate for older middle schoolers and high school students who are ready for a realistic, sometimes harrowing look at the human cost of war and the nuance of personal integrity.
