Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Rifles for Watie
Book Review: A *GREAT* Civil War novel
Summary: 5 Stars
I was somewhat skeptical of reading "Rifles for Watie" when I saw that it was originally written in the '50's, believing that any book that old must be sappy and cheap. I was certainly suprised! This book ranks very high in my favorite books.Jeff Bussey, a teenage Kansas boy, decides that he wants to join the Union army, especially after southern bushwackers come near his family's home. Jeff is sure that fighting the Confederates will be a great adventure for he and his friends, but he is soon suprised - when he sees the results of terrible battles, he begins to doubt the honor and excitement of war. When Jeff falls in love with a spirited Cherokee-Confederate girl, and also when he gets involved with some other Confederates, he learns that the other armies are just made up of boys like him, who fiercly honor their country.
This was an excellent, exciting, interesting, and, at the same time, educational young adult novel on the Civil War, and I'd definitely recommend it for ages 12 and up! You may also enjoy "The Journal of James Edmund Pease", "The Boys' War", and "Soldier's Heart", also on the Civil War, and, on the also intriguing Revolutionary War, the book "Johnny Tremain" and the wonderful movie "The Patriot.
Book Review: A Young Man's War
Summary: 4 Stars
Have you ever wondered about what life was like for a young teenager growing up in the Union Army during the Civil War? If so, then Harold Keith's book, Rifles For Watie, is the book for you. It follows th journey of a teenager named Jeff, who, in his youthful enthusiasm, joins the Union Army during the Civil War. On this journey he meets friends, makes enemies, and falls in love. He is surprised by the ferocity of the fighting and finds no glory in the victory. This book would be good for teens to young adults.Rifles For Watie is organized in an easy to read, orderly fashion. There are no jumps from here to there to confuse you. There are however, periods of time with little or no action. An example is, "We stayed in the fort for 3 whole months waiting to get into action." The author also gives you side information about the war as a whole, which will help you keep your bearings on the years.
The age group that I think would get the maximum effectiveness
from enjoying this book would be young adults or people interested in the life of a soldier. The vocabulary is easy to read but the fact that Keith puts in the Kansas accents and spellings might make it slightly harder to read for some. The author also deals with subjects akin to young adults, changing emotions, questioned ideals, and loss.
The amount of emotion in this book is astounding. The author weaves in how Jeff feels and thinks. He describes in detail his thoughts using fear, suspense, and longing, among them. He uses Jeff's emotions by telling how flustered he gets when he met Lucy, a young Rebel teenager his age.
Rifles For Watie is a "must read" for young adults teens and people who like war novels.
Book Review: A fantastic read aloud book for the family!
Summary: 5 Stars
I personally feel that anyone studying the Civil War should read this book. "Good" and "bad" are not not easily identified by the color of a uniform. How Jeff deals with each situation provides many opportunities for discussion. Although this book could be read by and certainly enjoyed by a young reader (lots of excitment to keep them interested) much of the moral value would likely be lost without follow-up discussion.
Book Review: A great novel about American history
Summary: 5 Stars
I absoulutly love this book! I am 13 and just got done reading this book for my 8th grade history class. We had to read the book and write journals as if we were actually Jeff and tell about the war and our opinions as the book went on.I am amazed how much detail this book went into, it covered the bushwackers and when Jeff first went in, his girl Lucy Washbourne,how much he wanted to be in a battle and when he figured out that the men on the rebel side were just like him. The title was clever and how is was come up with! well this book is a keeper and hopefully others will get to enjoy this timeless classic also!Book Review: A must for peolpe who love civil war novels
Summary: 5 Stars
Rifles for watie is about a young man who is living in thecivil war era. The best thing about this book is it gives us a lookinto both sides of the war and is very informative about the ideas andfeelings that were going on at the time of the civil war. It is a goodbook for both young and old. I first read it in the seventh grade andas a junior in college I find my self still reading through thechapters when ever I get the chance.