| Based on the life of a real boy, it tells the story of Charley Goddard, who lies his way into the Union Army at the age of 15. Charley has never been anyplace beyond Winona, Minnesota, and thinks war would be a great adventure. And it is--at first--as his regiment marches off through cheering crowds and pretty, flag-waving girls. But then comes the battle. Charley screams, "Make it stop now!" disbelieving that anything so horrible could be real. Paulsen is unsparing in the details of what actually happens on the battlefield: the living men suddenly blown into pieces, the agony and fear, the noise and terror, the stinking corpses. After many battles, Charley is wounded and sent home an old man before he is 20. | ||
|
Plot & Themes Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) Time/era of story: War Thriller Yes Armed Forces: - Army Specific to - Civil War Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book descript. of violence and chases - 30 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 10 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 50 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 % Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - a teen Ethnicity/Race Main Adversary Identity: - an organization Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: Motive of antagonist - money/treasure How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting United States Yes The US: - Mid-Atlantic states Misc setting - fort/military installation Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - very gorey descriptions deaths/dead bodies Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
||