It’s 1863, and ten-year- old Jeremy DeGroot is itching to join the Union Army -- so he runs away from Old Silas, the brutal man to whom he is indentured. After reaching Washington D. C. by train, he is able to enlist in the 107th New York Volunteer Regiment as a drummer boy; a key player in the Army’s communication system. One day, while refilling his canteen at a stream, Jeremy happens to meet Charlie Jackson, a Confederate soldier whom he befriends. They meet again several times throughout the book. Jeremy also meets Dulcie, an escaped slave from a Georgia plantation. She is soon able to find work as an assistant to Dr. Flood, the camp surgeon. Dulcie also realizes that now she is free and able to make her own decisions. Together, Dulcie and Jeremy go through terrible trials, such as friends dying from wounds and Jeremy losing his drum in a battle. Will they be able to survive the War Between the States?
I think the author did an excellent job at describing the situations in this book. She also sometimes brings characters into the situations for only one or two chapters, which I think makes the situations more realistic. She also incorporated a few fascinating facts into the book. For example, Maryland almost seceded from the Union to join the Confederate States. I enjoyed The Storm Before Atlanta very much and highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in America’s Civil War.
Content: 1
Rating: 10
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Annandale, Virginia United States
