Lottie's Courage: A Contraband Slave's StoryTen year old Lottie is sold away from her mother at a slave auction in Williamsburg, Virginia. Bought by the evil slave trader Nephus Slye, Lottie travels south tied to other slaves. The uncertainty of her future leads Lottie to attempt escape. With Weza, an older woman who befriends her, Lottie slips away in the darkness. Morning finds the slave trader and his dogs closing in.
The yelping grew nearer. Soon it was replaced by growling and barking as the dogs surrounded the thicket. One dog began crawling toward them, baring his long teeth and snarling. Lottie buried her head in Weza’s chest, waiting for the dog to reach them. Lottie’s heart beat fast. She heard a horse neigh somewhere nearby. She raised her head. The dog lunged toward her neck.
This historical novel is based on memoirs and other records describing the experiences of runaway slaves who found refuge at Fortress Monroe in Virginia during the Civil War. Life among the contraband slaves provides the setting for Lottie’s struggle to overcome her fears and keep alive the hope that someday she will find her mother.
Anybody's Hero: The Battle of Old Men and Young Boys
Luca, 12 years old and new in Civil War Petersburg, wants to fit in. No one, except Jim, the class brain, is friendly. Luca and Jim team up to investigate the mysteries surrounding the doll with no face, the Voodoo pouch, and the Trapezium House. They decide to share their suspicions with Luca’s grandfather on the day the Union army advances on Petersburg. Luca, his grandfather, and Jim, join the old men and young boys defending the city. Luca and his wounded grandfather take cover in a ravine as the Confederates retreat.
Divided Loyalties: A Revolutionary War Fifer's Story
The Revolutionary War has torn apart eleven-year-old Teddy’s family. His father is a Patriot, his mother a Loyalist. Problems at home lead to Teddy’s enlistment. He mistakenly joins the wrong unit of the State Garrison Regiment and enters a whole new world of men and boys leaving Williamsburg, Virginia, for the relief of Charleston, South Carolina. As a member of the fife and drum corps, Teddy contends with old enemies and forges new loyalties. Marching at night, the regiment clashes with the British at the Battle of Camden in August 1780. Teddy advanced with the others. His legs quivered with each step, but he knew he must go forward. The soldiers would be listening for the calls of the fifers and drummers to tell them what to do. A volley of rifle fire swept the regiment. In the moonlight, Teddy saw Colonel Porterfield careen backwards and fall. Still, they moved forward. Teddy heard a roar as loud as thunder followed by a terrible burning sensation on the side of his head. He staggered. Josh grabbed him, cushioning his fall. Teddy reached up and felt hot blood streaming from his head. The last thing he heard was the corps sounding Retreat.
