Garrett Clayman Mrs. Davis 8-2 Historical Fiction Book Report 2.23.
2009
ACROSS FIVE APRILS Part I
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt, 207 pages, Historical Fiction Setting Irene Hunts first book, Across Five Aprils, takes place in the area where she was born in Southern Illinois, and is set back in time to the civil war. During the Civil War, Southern Illinois was on the Mason-Dixon Line. The main family in this book, The Creightons, are split apart during the war along with many other families of this time. People are often caught in the midst of fighting and do not know much about the war from the newspaper. Some youngsters such as Jethro Creighton think the war will be exciting, but he soon learns it is not all fun and games. This book depicts an interesting time in American History where brothers are fighting brothers and families are split. Conflicts and Resolutions The major conflict in this book is an external conflict that is happening with the whole country. It is the conflict of the war--the war between brothers, the not-so-civil war--should slavery be allowed. In Across Five Aprils Jethros brother, Bill ends up fighting for the South. This upsets his family and friends and leads to his neighbors burning down their barn. Later, the Creightons believe Bill fired the bullet that killed Jethros other brother Tom. It is unbelievable that someone can think a brother would kill another brother. This conflict is only resolved because the war ends but it scars everyone who was associated with the awful war. The main character in the book is Jethro Creighton a boy who is turning ten at the beginning of the war. His favorite brother, Mike, fights for the South while the rest of his family fights for the North. Jethros internal conflict is which side should he choose. His neighbors ridicule him for his brothers decision, and pour oil down his well and burn down his barn. Jethro is too distraught, this is clearly the biggest internal conflict in the whole book. Without anyone helping him Jethro seeks the help of President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln writes him back giving him advice on this difficult decision. Once the war ends, Lincoln is assassinated. Jethro is very upset and moves in with his sister Jenny at the end of the book. Another external conflict is between the people of Southern Illinois. When Jethro goes to town he is ridiculed for being the brother of Matt Creighton, a traitor to the Union. When those same people burn down the Creighton barn and pour oil in there well. But, are also member of the community who support the Creightons such as Israel Thomas and Ross Milton. This conflict is resolved in a very bizarre way when Tom Creighton is killed in war, and Matt Creighton is sent
to the hospital everyone helps out the Creighton family. In this part of the book you learn even though they might not all agree they are all a neighbors.
Part II
The book Across Five Aprils is named that because of the five years of the civil war. The war started in April 1861 and ended in April 1865. That period was a grim one in American History and if you lived on the Mason-Dixon line like the Creightons did your family could have been split apart, or you could have killed your neighbor. The book takes place from 1860 until 1865 but its focus is on 1862. The Creighton family is not ever completely sure what is going on in the war. In the book it said, One day they would be praising a Union General, the next day they would damn him. This is fictional information, this is just inside the book to confuse the characters and this would make the letters from their solders in battle that much more interesting. During the war there were very hard economic times. During the book the Creightons were complaining about coffee prices being extremely high. There would be more frequent trips to the market, which is why Jethro got to go by himself. When Jethro goes he meets the gang that will later burn down his barn. The book looks into the battle of Pittsburg-Landing, better known as the battle of Shiloh, in which Tom Creighton was killed. In the book the townspeople were upset at Commander Grant for not seeing it coming. What they are talking about is how C.S.A. Commander Sidney Johnston made a surprise attack on Union Army. The battle took place April 6-7, 1862 in Harding, Tennessee. The Creighton family is only happy at the fact Commander Johnston was killed on the first day of the battle. Just like the book depicts the Union was unsuccessful in this battle, having about 2,500 more casualties and losses.
