Stolz (Coco Grimes, 1994, etc.) fleshes out - barely - a
sentimental Civil War ballad about brothers who share a hobby
horse, and years later, another steed in the aftermath of battle.
Tom Rigby's excitement as he awakens on his ninth birthday changes
to outrage when he learns that the slave Aaron, a companion to him
and his twin for most of their lives, has been summarily "sent to
the quarter" by their father to be a field hand. Although he
listens reluctantly to the warnings of the household slaves (who
maintain that making a fuss will only endanger Aaron), Tom
defiantly gives his birthday toys away to the slave children. He
has an argument with twin Jack, who echoes their father's advocacy
of slavery, although the riff isn't wide enough to prevent him from
sharing his hobby horse when Jack's breaks. Twelve years later, Tom
- a Union officer - recalls that time as he offers a ride to a
wounded Confederate soldier who looks only too familiar. Stolz
focuses more on her characters' emotional states than on plot or
background detail, and readers who are less familiar with the era
will wonder why Aaron was sent away, and why the slave children
have to hide their new toys from the overseen Paul Fleischman's
Bull Run or Gary Paulsen's Nightjohn (both, 1993) afford more
insight into the realities of slavery and of what Stolz calls "this
brothers' war." (Kirkus Reviews)
A Brother's War
Tom Rigby didn't think that anything could ever come between him and his twin, Jack. But things begin to change when Tom learns that they are not allowed to play with their friend Aaron anymore because he's a slave. Tom is upset, but Jack doesn't seem to care. All Jack cares about is playing soldier.
Eleven years later, when war breaks out, Jack joins the Confederation army. But Tom can't bring himself to fight for a cause he doesn't believe in -- slavery. So Tom rides north to join the Union army -- even though he knows he may one day have to face his brother on the battlefield.
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