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The Civil War is raging and in a desperate effort to find more recruits, the Union begins a draft - a draft with a difference. The wealthy can pay $300 to be released from their obligation, but the poor must go and fight and die. In New York City, the recently arrived Irish are the hardest hit by the draft and during the long hot days of July the city explodes in a rash of arson, marches, attacks, and lynchings, with the immigrant Irish taking out their anger on the black inhabitants of the city. Fourteen-year-old Claire, the daughter of an Irish mother and a black father, has never had to choose between the two sides of the family - she has never had reason to consider her own identity. When she learns that a friend of hers is in danger, she decides to go to her aid, but by venturing out on the streets, she puts her own life at risk. Myers's use of the screenplay format allows his readers a birds-eye view of the four hot days in July when New York City burned, using multiple points of view from both sides of the conflict.
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA; Reprint edition (April 26, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1606842099
ISBN-13: 978-1606842096
Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.4 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #526,028 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #39 in Books > Teens > Historical Fiction > United States > Civil War Period #151 in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Difficult Discussions > Violence #245 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Social & Family Issues > Prejudice & Racism
Age Range: 12 and up
Grade Level: 7 and up
This story takes place during the Civil War in New York City during the year 1863. The President of the United States at that time was Abraham Lincoln. President Lincoln starts a mandatory draft for the war. The wealthy are the only ones that can afford to pay a fine of $300 to avoid the draft. The first drawing of the draft took place in Lower Manhattan. This started rioting among the Irish immigrants that are upset because they are worried that the freed slaves are going to take the few minimum wage jobs that are available. The riots cause rage, fire and store lootings. So many places burned down and black Americans are being attacked and sadly murdered.The main character in this story is Claire, a 15 year old that has a black father and Irish mother. During those times she was considered black and in danger. She is confused as to her race because everybody considers her black, and everything is different for her. Her friend, Pricilla, who also is 15 years old and black, is now being threatened to be killed, along with the other blacks in the city. As Claire said “I just wanted to be a human being. I just wanted to be whoever I saw in the mirror, without a race or a place in life.”Claire is trying her best to stay away from danger, she wants to help her black father help save the black orphans from being killed by the rioters. Priscilla is also trying to help keep the orphans safe and find her aunt at the same time. These actions could have ended their lives early if the rioters found them. But eventually the riots died down.I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about the United States Civil War. While I reading this book its description and choice of words really put me into character.
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