Book List: "Across Five Aprils"

After struggling to finish this book over the past few weeks, I finally finished reading Across Five Aprils. I can see why it is considered a literary classic! It was a really good piece of writing-- descriptive, emotional, and factual. My only criticism is that it focused perhaps a little too much on the war. I wasn't interested as much in the parts that went into detail about the politics and the ongoing narrative about the movements of the various armies, but for other readers I'm sure it was interesting information.

Irene Hunt told this historical story in a very neat way. She intertwined fact and fiction in a satisfying blend of emotions and family, and she was able to tell the story of the Civil War from many different perspectives. By focusing on one family, you can plainly see how the war affected the home life of everyone in the country. Bill, the older brother that runs away to fight for the South, brings some unmerited ridicule and mob activity to their family farm. John, a brother, son, and father if the perfect example of the survivor-- the one that comes home to his former life scarred by the loss of his children's growing-up years. Shadrach and Jenny make a beautiful romance-- the boy goes off to war, leaving his heart at home with the young lovesick girl. And finally, the death of Tom, representing all those that never came home.

By centering the story around Jethro, the youngest son of the Creighton family, we can view the story from all the letters they received, how he was able to interact with his cousin Eb by asking the President Lincoln to allow him back into the army after his act of desertion. Through this one family, we are able to see almost every way in which families at that time were affected by the war. We could also see how the media had such a big impact on the minds of the population-- badmouthing generals and spreading gossip about the happenings of the battlefield.

Across Five Aprils was written in a very emotional way. It didn't focus on the beginning of the war, nor did it focus on slavery or politics. The central theme was the chronology of the Civil War, as the Creighton family tracked the progress and awaited the end with sad, bated breath. It was deeply involved in telling the story of Abraham Lincoln, as the country went between extreme love and extreme disagreement with the President. The letter to Jethro, his reelection, and his death, went to show how much America really loved him, even though he was very misunderstood by the media and most citizens.

I'm glad that I got the opportunity to read this book! As I said, it went into more detail about the comings and goings of the military than what I felt necessary, but Hunt had to add fact in there somewhere between all the sappy letters and sad farmers. It makes the events within the Civil War period much clearer in my mind, and it makes the story much more interesting than a history book ever would!