The Last Full Measure

This novel of a girl and her family in Gettysburg as the infamous Civil War battle begins " brings a piece of history to life" ( School Library Journal).   As Confederate and Union soldiers take over their town, the residents of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, can do little more than hunker down in their homes while cannon and gunfire explode around them. But the battles are not only fought between soldiers. At home, fourteen-year-old Tacy worries about the safety of her African-American friend and locks horns with her disabled brother, David, as he yearns to go to war, frustrated and angry about sitting by while others do the fighting.   But circumstances will soon bring both David and Tacy into the aftermath of this great and terrible battle—whose soldiers will not be the last to make the ultimate sacrifice…   "A beautiful blend of hope and tragedy…this novel once again shows the author's skill at giving historical events flesh and heart."— Booklist