Mary Blair Immel

Based on a true story, and full of relevant historical photographs, this book fails to deliver on action in many ways. I do not think it will hold the interest of the 9-12 year old target audience.

Captured! Tells the story of a 14 year old farm boy boy named Johnny Ables. His father has died and he has to act as the man of the family. While doing chores he was captured by Confederate soldiers and pressed into service as a wood hauler. Ironically, those Confederate soldiers are themselves taken prisoner and Johnny is mistaken as a young Confederate soldier and is sent to prison camp in Indianapolis.

Mary Blair Immel writes that she wanted to stay true to the actual story of Johnny Ables' life. This even means not including an ending to the story because she could not find it in her research. This leaves it to the reader's imagination if the boy gets home.

This read, while historically accurate, was dry and boring.… (altro)

This is my favorite kind of book - historical fiction based on actual events. Captured! A Boy Trapped in the Civil War, is the story of a Kentucky boy who was commandeered, along with his cart and horse, into the service of the Confederate Army. He was forced to participate in a battle, was captured as a prisoner of war and sent to Camp Morton in Indianapolis, Indiana. After several months in the POW camp, the men who had taken him from his home petition the camp commander to release him since in reality he was not a Conferate soldier. This is a great book that is perfect for fourth graders who are studying the Civil War.… (altro)