rrabas's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting account of the battle of Bull Run told from the perspective of fictional characters.
shaprincess21's review against another edition
5.0
This book was actually a great book if you like anything based in Civil war times.
elsanore's review against another edition
3.0
I read Paul Fleischman's Bull Run with my two children as part of our homeschool study of the Civil War. The audio book brought it to life! Presented by a full cast of sixteen voices, each is a distinct character. Reading silently would not have had nearly the same impact, and I would have given the book a mere two stars.
whitneydrew's review against another edition
2.0
I think there were too many narrators of this story (16). It got confusing and it felt a little less emotional because of it.
jamicuns01's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this book was on the 4th grade battle of the books list and read it. It is actually for the 5th graders, but I'm glad I read it. It's a good glimpse at the beginning of the Civil War. I had a hard time remembering who was who, but I did like that the author used a number of witnesses from different walks of life to tell the story. I was struck by the treatment of the slaves by the northerners. They were fighting a war that would end slavery but they turned back a slave if they tried to escape? :( I was also struck by the idea that people would set up picnics on a hill overlooking the battle and watch it unfold for their entertainment. What a different time. I recommend it for any young reader wanting to learn more about the Civil War.
pinkrain718's review against another edition
4.0
This book includes many perspectives concerning the Battle of Bull Run and it's a great way to introduce the war and how different people reacted. I look forward to reading parts aloud to my class when I introduce this battle.
just_fighting_censorship's review against another edition
3.0
Fleischman does a great job of capturing the essence of a large collection of characters and objectively telling the story of the first battle of the American Civil War. We have a diverse collection of voices, women and men, old and young, black and white, Northern and Southern. He doesn't skimp on the gory details of war, which I think is a good thing, but be warned.
elizabethseebee's review against another edition
2.0
I have always enjoyed stories that are told through multiple characters perspectives, BUT sixteen characters is far too many to keep track of... Perhaps if the characters full stories were condensed into separate chapters instead of flipping back and forth through all the characters, it would've been easier to read. Though I did like how the characters intertwined at the end and how the perspectives were through slaves, generals, soldiers, and other folks...
mary00's review against another edition
4.0
I was helping my son with a Civil War project for school and picked up this book for him. Well, after reading the glowing starred reviews inside the front cover, I started reading it myself and found it to be a jewel of a book. It is brief, but powerful. The story of the beginning of the Civil War and the Battle of Bull Run is told from the perspectives of 16 different people. I thought that it was very effective, poetic, and engaging. It would make a great addition to a classroom discussion of the Civil War, as it is such a quick read. I don't know how much kids would be drawn to this book on their own, but if used in conjunction with a classroom or home unit on the Civil War, it would be a great way to personalize the war and give their learning added dimension. Personally, I thought it was a great (but sad) stand-alone look at the war.
mrskatiefitz's review against another edition
4.0
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
In sixteen different voices from both sides of the Civil War, Paul Fleischman's 1993 novel Bull Run relates the events of the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. Included in the cast are men and women, black and white, who range from soldiers on the battlefield to artists and newspaper reporters, a young fife player, and a real-life general named Irvin McDowell.
There are a lot of characters in this short book, and even with wood carvings at the start of each chapter to differentiate one from the other, it was really hard to keep track of all the different storylines and personalities. As I read, I continually had to flip back to earlier chapters to make sure I was thinking about the correct character at the correct time. Though the battle is really the overarching plot that holds the story together, the constant shifts in perspective made it feel as though there was no real cohesive storyline. I really would have benefited from a prologue contextualizing the battle, as well as a dramatis personae introducing all the characters.
That said, this book is a powerful illustration of the impact of not just this battle, but of the Civil War as a whole on the people of the United States. By hearing stories from both sides, the reader really has the chance to understand each point of view and to empathize with both Southerners and Northerners, rather than simply taking a side. Because there are 8 characters from each side of the war, each viewpoint is represented equally and while the author does not sensationalize anything that happens, he also does not sugar-coat the pain and sadness of war, so readers really come to understand the horrors of the Civil War in an age appropriate way. Fleischman also avoids inserting his authorial voice into the text. There is no editorializing; the facts merely speak for themselves and allow readers to discuss the issues and draw their own conclusions.
The note at the end of the book states which characters are from the North and which are from the South, and it suggests reading the story as a reader's theater performance. Considering the trouble I had keeping the characters sorted out in my mind, I think a performance would be the ideal way to really appreciate this book. I also really wished I had kept a chart to refer to as I was reading and would recommend doing so to any potential reader of the book.
Overall, Bull Run makes a great starting point for delving into a deeper analysis of the rationale, impact, and experience of the Civil War. It would be especially useful in a classroom setting, where students could each take on a part and act out the story, but with proper preparation and prompting, the story can also be enjoyed independently. I will definitely keep this one on my list for future homeschooling lessons!
In sixteen different voices from both sides of the Civil War, Paul Fleischman's 1993 novel Bull Run relates the events of the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. Included in the cast are men and women, black and white, who range from soldiers on the battlefield to artists and newspaper reporters, a young fife player, and a real-life general named Irvin McDowell.
There are a lot of characters in this short book, and even with wood carvings at the start of each chapter to differentiate one from the other, it was really hard to keep track of all the different storylines and personalities. As I read, I continually had to flip back to earlier chapters to make sure I was thinking about the correct character at the correct time. Though the battle is really the overarching plot that holds the story together, the constant shifts in perspective made it feel as though there was no real cohesive storyline. I really would have benefited from a prologue contextualizing the battle, as well as a dramatis personae introducing all the characters.
That said, this book is a powerful illustration of the impact of not just this battle, but of the Civil War as a whole on the people of the United States. By hearing stories from both sides, the reader really has the chance to understand each point of view and to empathize with both Southerners and Northerners, rather than simply taking a side. Because there are 8 characters from each side of the war, each viewpoint is represented equally and while the author does not sensationalize anything that happens, he also does not sugar-coat the pain and sadness of war, so readers really come to understand the horrors of the Civil War in an age appropriate way. Fleischman also avoids inserting his authorial voice into the text. There is no editorializing; the facts merely speak for themselves and allow readers to discuss the issues and draw their own conclusions.
The note at the end of the book states which characters are from the North and which are from the South, and it suggests reading the story as a reader's theater performance. Considering the trouble I had keeping the characters sorted out in my mind, I think a performance would be the ideal way to really appreciate this book. I also really wished I had kept a chart to refer to as I was reading and would recommend doing so to any potential reader of the book.
Overall, Bull Run makes a great starting point for delving into a deeper analysis of the rationale, impact, and experience of the Civil War. It would be especially useful in a classroom setting, where students could each take on a part and act out the story, but with proper preparation and prompting, the story can also be enjoyed independently. I will definitely keep this one on my list for future homeschooling lessons!