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Grade: 7-9
GR Level: Y
Lexile Level: 1010L
Description: As Evvy's 14th birthday approaches, it is time for her to be introduced into society as a woman. But Evvy has other plans, she wants to prove women can do anything men can do, while still being a true woman. This novel takes us on her journey as she uncovers secrets, make choices, and works to keep her family together while the war is happening around them.
Rationale: I chose this book because it shows what women's "roles" were like during the war. I also like that this book is based off of real diaries from Civil War-era women who became the next generation of feminists known as "The Suffragettes."

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Grade: 6-8
GR Level: V
Lexile Level: 1000L
Description: Historical Fiction: based on the real-life experiences of Charley Goddard. This novel tells of Charley's experiences, from the time he enlists in the Union army at age fifteen to his life after the war when he is twenty-one.
Rationale: I chose this book because it goes into detail about the events, battles, and daily life of the being involved in the war as well as its impact on soldiers after.

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Grade: 6-8
GR Level: W
Lexile Level: 970L
Description: This book goes into great detail about the struggles of the Civil War and how it divided not only the nation, but friends and family. It includes personal ancedotes from soldiers, profiles of historical figures, and photographs.
Rationale: I chose this book because it talks about a lot of the key leaders as well as specific battles within the war that the standards for this content cover (E.g., confederate attack on Fort Sumter, Battle of Shiloh, Ulysses S. Grant, Stonewall Jackson).

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Grade: 6-8
GR Level: U
Lexile Level: 870L
Description: Historical Fiction: Inspired by a true story, this novel tells of a young slave girl, Ann Maria Weems, harrowing escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad.
Rationale: I chose this book because it shows hope through unimaginable hardships for a young child. The students could connect with Ann Maria in some way. I think this is a good book to have the students write on thematic connections within the novel (E.g., freedom, family, bigotry).

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The Civil War 1860-1865 by Christopher Collier

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The Civil War 1860-1865 by Christopher Collier

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Grade: 6-8
GR Level: X
Lexile Level: 955L
Description: This book provides a report of the Civil War. It describes events leading up to the war as well as the battles themselves.
Rationale: I chose this nonfiction book to explain different events of the war to help with the students' timeline as well as use this book for source work.

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Civil War Spies: Behind Enemy Lines by Camilla Wilson

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Civil War Spies: Behind Enemy Lines by Camilla Wilson

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Grade: 6-8
GR Level: W
Lexile Level: 1000L
Description: This book takes readers on the true adventures of seven different people who risked their lives during the Civil War. These spies did whatever they could to get information through.
Rationale: I chose this text for its reality of the war and, through it, being able to show students what the Civil War was like working on the inside.

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Grade: 8-12
GR Level: Y
Lexile Level: 1155L
Description: This Historical Fiction novel shows the worst race riots the U.S. has ever seen erupt in New York City on a hot July in 1863. Due to Lincoln instituting a draft earlier in the year of 1863 for more Union soldiers, immigrants and black Americans are outraged because this draft allowed the wealthy to escape the army by paying a $300 waiver. As the first drawing for the draft takes place on July 11th, the riots begin.
Rationale: I like that this novel addresses race, prejudice-ness, and class status. It is an exciting novel I believe would impact the students and help in comprehending the racial issues and injustices happening during this time period.

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Grade: 6-8
GR Level: X
Lexile Level: 955L
Description: Historical Fiction: Hannah Green's family has owned a store in Holly Springs, Mississippi, for many years. After the outbreak of the Civil War, Hannah's family store and hometown is occupied by Union Soldiers. She is furious, not only because of the take over but also because her sister falls in love with a Union soldier and, because she and her family are Jewish, they are forced to evacuate territory for violating trade regulations. They escape before their home is destroyed but lose everything, including their slaves, after Lincoln declares them free. Hannah becomes confused, who is on her side and who is not?
Rationale: I chose this book because I like how it shows the perspectives of the wealthy side of the Civil War and how these people were affected and angered by the War as well as the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln.

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With Every Drop of Blood by James Lincoln Collier

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With Every Drop of Blood by James Lincoln Collier

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Grade: 5-8
GR Level: Y
Lexile Level: 820L
Description: Historical Fiction: After Johnny's father was wounded from fighting for the south, Johnny promises his father he will take care of his family and not go fight. Johnny's family needs money, so he's given an offer to take his mules and wagon on a mission to supply Rebel troops. Along this journey, he is captured by a Yankee named Cush, who is a runaway slave. Along this new journey, an unlikely friendship forms.
Rationale: I chose this book for its ability to show how families were affected from the Civil War as well as showing hope for humanity as readers watch these two opposite strangers become unlikely friends. We get to view the change in perspective between both Johnny and Cush. This is a good book to use for writing prompts and reflections.

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Silent Thunder: A Civil War Story by Andrea Davis Pinkney 

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Silent Thunder: A Civil War Story by Andrea Davis Pinkney 

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Grade: 6-8
GR Level: X
Lexile Level: 955L
Description: Historical Fiction: On a Virginia plantation in 1862 two siblings, Summer who is eleven and her thirteen-year-old brother, Rosco, take turns describing their lives as slaves and how it is affected by the Civil War.
Rationale: I chose this book because while it shows sectional difference in the U.S., it also shows how the outbreak of the Civil War affected not only soldiers and the wealthy, but slaves.

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Grade: 8-11
GR Level: Z
Lexile Level: 1155L
Description: Historical Fiction: This novel is about a boy named Jethro who grows up during the Civil War. Jethro's family farm is in Southern Illinois and is divided about which side to support. Two of Jethro's brothers fight for the North and one fights for the South.
Rationale: I chose this book because it shows the geographical divisions not only within states, but within families.

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Grade: 6-8
GR Level: Z
Lexile Level: 1140L
Description: This is a dual biography of two African-American Union soldiers, George E. Stephens and James Henry Gooding. This book shows how African-Americans were involved in the Union Army and also shows how these two men also served in the black regiment, Massachusetts 54 Infantry that worked to protest unfair pay which resulted in America's first major civil rights victory--equal pay for African-American soldiers.
Rationale: I chose this book for spot lighting two little-known, but significant figures who played a part in the Civil War and helped change history.

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Dark Sky Rising by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. 

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Dark Sky Rising by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. 

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Grade: 7-10
GR Level: Z+
Lexile Level: 1200L
Description: Based on real life accounts--Readers follow the rise and fall of racial equity during Reconstruction as white supremacy violently increases and new forms of oppression take place.
Rationale: I chose this book because I believe it would be a good book to read aloud with my students. Because of its higher lexile level, this is a good book to read aloud so that I can pause and ask critical thinking questions, build suspense, and help them stay on track. This is also a good book to use to help students with paying attention to details, series of events, and figuring out cause and effect of events.

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Grade: 6-8
GR Level: X
Lexile Level: 990L
Description: This book shows readers how the secession of the Southern states resulted in war as well as the lasting effects of its gory disputes.
Rationale: I chose this book because I think it is a great text to use for understanding the civil war and for source work. I could break the students up into groups and have them read aloud to each other. I could provide an activity sheet that requires them to answer questions, make inferences, and defend their answers by finding textual evidence.

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Walt Whitman: Words for America by Barbara Kerley

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Walt Whitman: Words for America by Barbara Kerley

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Grade: 6-8
GR Level: W
Lexile Level: 970L
Description: This book tells readers about the life of Walt Whitman. He was a poet, American, and Civil War hero. He was a nurse during the Civil War and nursed all soldiers (confederate/union, black/white). Inspired by all the men he met, he started writing.
Rationale: I chose this text so that I could show my students an important, inspiring figure from the War. This could be a good book to do writing prompts and ask the students questions about the text (E.g., would you have done the same thing as Walt? Why or why not?).

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Grade: 4-7
GR Level: Y
Lexile Level: 670L
Description: Historical Ficiton--Though the Civil War is coming to an end, there are still internal battles happening for a 13-year-old girl named Eulinda. Her younger brother, Zeke, was sold, and her older brother, Neddy joined the Northern war effort. Eulinda believes Neddy might be buried in a former prison where soldiers were kept and tortured. As she goes through this journey, her fortitude is tested and she must find a way to let go of her past.
Rationale: The book shows the struggles, hardships, and obstacles Eulinda had to face as a slave. Losing loved ones, and facing uncertainties, I think this book gives good insight on what slaves faced in their every day life.

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The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

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The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane

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Grade: 7-9
GR Level: P
Lexile Level: 900L
Description: Historical Fiction inspired by events of the Civil War. This is the story of a teenage boy named Henry Fleming, who joins the Union army because he is infatuated with the romance of battle and hopes to fulfill his dreams of glory. Soon reality of war sets in and fear takes over Henry as it begins.
Rationale: I chose this book for its relation to the Civil War, the interesting look on the life of a soldier during war, and the parallel to how young soldiers, like Henry, probably felt during this time.

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Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel by C.M. Butzer

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Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel by C.M. Butzer

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Grade: 6-8
GR Level: Y
Lexile Level: 1010L
Description: This comic book style book uses its graphic details to illustrate The Battle of Gettysburg, the national movement to create a memorial there, and Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address.
Rationale: I chose this text for its format and visual interpretation. I like how it is able to break down each event and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address so that students can better understand and resonate with it.

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Lincoln Through the Lens by Martin W. Sandler 

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Lincoln Through the Lens by Martin W. Sandler 

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Grade: 6-12
GR Level: X
Lexile Level: 1210L
Description: This informational text provides a biography and autobiography on the life of Abraham Lincoln. Within the book contains hundreds of images that tell us about his life, including his Gettysburg Address and second Inauguration.
Rationale: I chose this text as an opportunity for students to be able integrate with visual information and look at different kind of media. With this text, they are able to observe primary sources of Lincoln throughout his life.

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Grade: 8-10
GR Level: Z
Lexile Level: 1155L
Description: Historical Ficiton---Days before the dead walked the Gettysburg battlefields--derailing the war between the states, Jane McKeene was born. This book takes readers on a journey through Jane's life of wanting to escape her education and training in Baltimore to become an Attendant (taught to put down the dead) and go back to her home in Kentucky. But before she leaves, families in Baltimore go missing and Jane becomes caught in the middle of a conspiracy.
Rationale: I like this text for its suspenseful journey of showing us the hostile, aggressive world of Jane McKeene. There are some qualities in it that show things from the Civil War (E.g., Gettysburg and Jane being taken from her family). But I mainly like it because of its thriller fiction (E.g., zombies) and it can be used as a good break from the social studies content they are learning.