Rifles for Watie: A Gripping Tale of a Young Soldier's Journey Through the Civil War's Harsh Realities

Winner of the Newbery Medal and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, this novel follows sixteen-year-old Jeff Bussey, who joins Union volunteers in 1861 in Linn County, Kansas. Expecting a quick war, Jeff instead experiences the harsh realities of combat—endless marches, hunger, exhaustion, and the loss of friends. When he finds himself among enemy troops, he must risk his life for the Union cause. Thoroughly researched and based on firsthand accounts and diaries of Civil War veterans, the novel explores the Civil War's Western Front in Kansas, Arkansas, and the Cherokee Nation. After being separated from his unit, Jeff must survive by posing as a Confederate soldier, which tests his loyalty and courage while blurring the lines between friend and foe. Through his eyes, readers witness his transformation from an idealistic boy into a pragmatic young man who recognizes the humanity on both sides of the conflict. An ALA Notable Children's Book, this work is recommended for independent reading, classroom use, and homeschooling.