When Homer’s older brother is sold by their guardian (“the meanest man in the entire state of Maine”) to take a rich man’s place in the Civil War, he sets out to find him and has many adventures along the way, including being abducted by slave catchers, joining a traveling medicine show, and finally landing smack in the middle of the Battle of Gettysburg.

This is an adventurous and engaging introduction to the issues surrounding the Civil War. The comic tone is very appropriate for the 9-12 age group. The topics range from outrageous (Homer riding in a hydrogen balloon over a Civil War battlefield and playing the role of “The Pig Boy” in a traveling medicine show) to quite serious (Civil War battles and slavery). There is some disturbing imagery when Homer describes the plight of escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad, and during battlefield scenes with injuries to soldiers.

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