Skip to main content

A Savage Thunder: Antietam and the Bloody Road to Freedom


by Jim Murphy
New York: Simon & Schuster, 2009. 102 pgs. Juvenile Nonfiction
Though the battle of Gettysburg gets the most attention, the battle of Antietam was actually the bloodiest single day of fighting in the Civil War and, in fact, in the history of American warfare. Although Murphy's book begins fairly slowly as General McClellan's forces move into position to meet the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of General Robert E. Lee, the reader is soon in the thick of the battle with Union and Confederate soldiers mowing each other down like reapers with scythes. Murphy does his usual expert job of providing a clear and cogent overview of the whole battlefield, interspersed with anecdotes about and quotations from actual participants. The North "won" the day because they had more troops, but since General McClellan in his usual timorous fashion thought that the South had more troops (and neglected to send out patrols to find out how many Rebel soldiers there were), he failed to press his advantage and thereby lengthened the war by two years or more. "A Savage Thunder" is a powerful, beautiful, terrible story complemented by photographs that were the first ever taken on a battlefield before the dead were buried. I wish I had read this book before I visited the Antietam National Battlefield--it would have given me a better understanding of the sacred, sacrificial spirit that fills that place. Highly recommended for sixth grade and up.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Painting for Peace in Ferguson

Painting for Peace in Ferguson By Carol Swartout Klein Treehouse Publishing Group, 2015. Nonfiction. When the city of Ferguson was overrun with so much hate and despair that homes and businesses had to be boarded up to protect property, citizens of the community decided to bring a message of hope by painting the boarded windows. Klein’s rhyming text supports the photographs of the hundreds of artists and volunteers and their artwork as they bring the messages of peace, hope, love, and that by being united they can make a difference. A great book to show children how a community rallied to make a positive change and that even a small gesture can make a huge difference. A great discussion opener on how we should treat each other.

Dragon Run

Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews Scholastic, 2013.  336 pgs.  Fantasy      Al Pilgrommor is excited for Testing Day, when he will receive his rank, a tattooed number on the back of his neck, and a path forward to his future occupation and life.  He feels confident because his parents were fours on a scale of seven, but he is worried for his friend Wisp who doesn't have much of a chance of scoring above a two at best. But when Al is scored a zero, he not only has no prospects, he may lose his life as the dreaded Cullers are unleashed to kill him and his family to purify the land's bloodlines.  Al's world is ruled by dragons--the lords and supposed creators of humankind--so he thinks that even if he survives, he will have to make his living as a beggar or thief. But when Al sticks up for his Earther friend in front of Magister Ludi, he is drawn into the struggle of a secret organization hoping to destroy the Cullers, and perhaps the dragons them...

Books to Read... Inspired by Our Summer Reading Theme

I am very excited about the summer reading theme here at the library: Color Our World. From the first moment I heard what the theme was going to be, it has been on my mind, and I noticed I was seeing bright and vibrant colors in so many picture books. Here are a few colorful books that inspired me! I hope you enjoy reading all summer long. How Do You Eat Color? Written by Mabi David Illustrated by Yas Doctor Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book. If you want a book full of vibrant colors, this one will definitely meet your expectations. Bold and eye-catching, the illustrations are a reminder that color is all around us, including in delicious foods that we eat. Even the endpapers are a deep and stunning shade that made me think of summer! I appreciated the tips the author included for why eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is important for all of us. Inventions to Count On Written by Dana Marie Miroballi Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud New Y...