FDL Reads: The Red Badge of Courage
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
Reviewed by: Deb Alig, Circulation Assistant
Genre: Historical Fiction
Suggested Age: Recommended for Grades 9 – 12
What is this book about? This book takes place during the era of the American Civil War. The main character, Henry Fleming, or the “youth” as he is often called, is a teenage boy who leaves home and enlists in the Union Army because he wants to experience what he imagines to be the glory of war. The story begins with the fictional 304th New York Infantry Regiment waiting to engage in battle. When battle finally begins, the Confederates are repelled. Henry survives the scuffle only for his regiment to be attacked again. This time his fear gets the best of him and he flees, shamefully deserting his regiment. Henry runs off into a nearby forest and encounters a group of wounded soldiers. He bumps into a tattered soldier who has been shot twice and who proudly declares that his regiment did not flee from the fighting. The tattered soldier asks Henry where he has been hurt, and knowing that he is not hurt, Henry scurries away feeling embarrassed and ashamed by the soldier’s question. After encountering the wounded soldiers, Henry wishes that he too could earn a Red Badge of Courage, or a wound obtained bravely in battle. Moving on from the wounded soldiers, Henry finds his regiment. In the final battle, he experiences a rush of new found courage and proudly carries the Union flag after the color sergeant falls. As described by Crane, the “sickness of battle” transformed the “youth” from a boy into a man.
My Review: Stephen Crane was born after the Civil War, yet The Red Badge of Courage reads as if it was written by someone who was there. Crane obtained his facts about the war by spending time with Civil War Veterans and by reading articles published about the war in Century Magazine. Many Civil War scholars are impressed with Crane’s work, especially with his detailed descriptions of the battlefields, the military maneuvers, and the artillery and infantry engagements. Some historians even believe that the battle described in the book is based on the real Battle of Chancellorsville.
I chose to read The Red Badge of Courage because I recently took a vacation to visit Civil War museums and battlefields. I visited the Chancellorsville Visitor Center and that is where I saw a first edition copy of The Red Badge of Courage published in 1895. Placards highlighted the plot and setting of the book and encouraged visitors to read it, especially for a genuine Civil War experience. After taking tours and exploring museums and battlefields, The Red Badge of Courage brought to life all that I had seen and heard. I highly recommend reading it.
Three Words that Describe this Book: historical, traumatic, riveting
Give This a Try if You Like: Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen; Jack Hinson’s One-Man War by Tom C. McKenney; Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt
Rating: 5/5
#FDL: Popular Paranormal Fiction
It’s that spooky time of year! Check out this list of titles that have been popular in 2023! Click on a title to view it in our catalog and place a hold.
Not Your Ex’s Hexes by April Asher
The Spite House by Johnney Compton
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
Cursed at Dawn by Heather Graham
Shadow Dance by Christine Feehan
The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn
Last to Leave the Room by Caitlin Starling
Bad Luck Vampire: An Argeneau Novel by Lynsay Sands
The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin
The Forest Demands Its Due by Kosoko Jackson
Howl at the Moon: An Urban Fantasy Fairy Tale by Deborah Wilde
–Post by Susie Rivera, Adult Services Specialist
#FDL is an update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.
FDL Reads: Sunflower Sisters
Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly
Reviewed by: Becky Houghton, Reference Assistant
What is This Book About?: Told from the perspective of three women during the U.S. Civil War and based heavily on fact and historical documents, Sunflower Sisters details the roles of women during the war from nurses to spies to slaves. Georgianna “Georgy” Woolsey takes a very active role in the war by training and serving as a field nurse in Maryland, the Capital in Washington and the Gettysburg battlefield. Georgy, her mother, and sisters all aid the Union war efforts in various ways as abolitionists. In contract, Anne-May Watson is a southern slave owner originally from New Orleans, but an inheritor of a tabaco plantation in Maryland. Through a cruel, abusive overseer, Anne-May mistreats those working on her farm and does all she can to keep the institution of slavery alive and well in the south. Jemma, a young slave girl, and her family are Anne-May’s property and their efforts to escape slavery and serve to end the institution comprise the third perspective of the story. Told chronologically through each of these women’s stories, a gripping, vivid tale of the Civil War years is revealed.
My Review: I loved this book! Kelly’s writing style of relating the events through the eyes of three different women from very diverse backgrounds gives a strong sense of accuracy to her accounts and draws the reader into the story that she tells. While some events related are not pleasant, Kelly’s strong characters and how they handle the events kept me engrossed in story. It is realistic because many of the characters and events portrayed actually existed as is revealed in the author’s note at the end of the novel. I have always enjoyed both fiction and non-fiction about the civil war, so highly recommend this book to the lovers of historical fiction!
Three Words that Describe this Book: Gripping, Powerful, Realistic
Give This A Try if You Like… Martha Kelly’s previous titles Lost Roses or Lilac Girls or if you just enjoy books about the tumultuous Civil War years in the United States.
Rating: 5/5
These Books Are the Cat’s Pajamas!
These Books Are the Cat’s Pajamas!
Did you know that cats are the coolest pets ever? Well, Miss Alice thinks so anyway! And 46.5 million households across the country agree! These fantastic felines can make biscuits and purr their way into anyone’s hearts. Here’s a bunch of books featuring cats to delight readers of all ages with some mischievous antics and sweet kitties.
Picture books:
1. Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty
2. Stack the Cats by Susie Ghahremani
3. 10 Cats by Emily Gravett (also available in Spanish)
4. Cat’s Very Good Day by Kristen Tracy
5. This Little Kitty by Karen Obuhanych
Fiction:
1. Sparrow Being Sparrow by Gail Donovan
2. Don’t Trust the Cat by Kristen Tracy
3. Mia Mayhen and the Cat Burglar by Kara West
4. Katt Loves Dogg by James Patterson
5. Catalyst by Sarah Beth Durst
Graphic novels:
1. Sue and Tai-chan by Kanata Konami
2. The Evil Secret Society of Cats by Pandania
3. Sparks by Ian Boothby
4. The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett
5. Kitty Quest by Phil Corbett
Nonfiction:
1. Cats: Nature and Nurture by Andy Hirsch
2. Get Crafting For Your Cool Cat by Ruth Owen
3. Cats are Cats: Poems by Nancy Larrick
4. Cats & Kittens: Learn to Draw and Color 26 Different Kitties by Diana Fisher
5. Cats by Anna Milbourne
-Post by Alice Mitchell, Youth Services Manager
FDL Reads: The Spider and the Fly
The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt, illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
Reviewed by Julie Nutt, Communications Specialist
Genre: Poetry, horror
Suggested age: Ages 8 and up
What is this book about? “ ‘Will you walk into my parlor?’ said the Spider to the Fly.” Probably one of most-well known opening lines in the history of poetry, “The Spider and the Fly,” is a cautionary tale written by poet Mary Howitt in 1829. The Spider lures the unsuspecting Fly into his home with charming compliments and offers of the finer things in life. But Spider’s promises are actually part of his fiendish plan to trap and eat the Fly! Fly is suspicious throughout, but can she avoid the spider’s fiendish ulterior motives?
Mary Howitt wrote this story as a cautionary tale to her own children, “about those who use sweet words to hide their not-so-sweet intentions” (from the book jacket). This New York Times Bestselling adaptation of the story has been hailed by critics and illustrators alike.
My review: Sadly, to this day, the message is all to relevant. Author William Bennett said of the story, “Unfortunately, as long as there’s dishonesty in the world, there will be people ready to lay traps for us…” It is a harsh lesson in stranger-danger for children, but also a warning to adults to beware of the danger of false promises. Mary Howitt’s prose perfectly depicts the Spider’s dark intentions, as well as the Fly’s naivete.
Illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi takes the poem to a whole new level of macabre with his ghostly pencil and gouache illustrations that are reminiscent of silent movies and 19th century fairy tales. (I personally find old fairy tales, well…pretty creepy.) DiTerlizzi takes no liberties with the text, but adds subtle clues in his illustrations as to what will ultimately happen to the Fly.
A quick, deliciously dreadful read for parents and kids…or just parents! Warning: read it with the lights on!
Three words that describe this book: creepy, captivating, cautionary
Give this a try if you like: books by Alvin Schwarz, Edward Gorey, and Shel Silverstein
Rating: 5/5
*available in print and Hoopla ebook
Library Memories Instagram Photo Contest
Fondulac District Library is celebrating our 10th Birthday in our current location! Our building at 400 Richland Street hosted its grand opening November 2, 2013. In honor of this big anniversary, we’re inviting you to take part in our Instagram library memories photo contest!
Rules:
Contest runs October 4-November 1, 2023.
Winners will be announced November 4.
Pictures must feature some aspect of Fondulac District Library.
Any person featured in an image must provide consent before the picture is taken.
Post photos to Instagram using the hashtag #fondulaclibrary10 in your caption.
Make sure your profile is public OR follow Fondulac District Library (@fondulacdistrictlibrary) on Instagram so we can see your entry.
Three winners will be determined by our library board president, Ellen Hanks.
Join us in celebrating 10 years of supporting your freedom to read!