Review: Guts for Glory

Lyons Wakeman was a real soldier during the Civil War. He fought bravely and wrote letters home about those experiences. Thankfully, those letters were saved and now we can see the true story of Lyons’ life. Using the letters, author Joanna Lapati shows us that Lyons was in fact Rosetta Wakeman who wanted something more than life on a farm. She is one of many women who disguised themselves as men and fought during the war.

The story is clear and concise, but rich with detail. The artwork is stunning and an integral part of the story. It effectively captures the mood of the tale and is careful not to glorify war. 

This book is great for kids interested in history and the Civil War, in particular. It would also be a great addition to a classroom library for older students (even high school) as a resource to share varied experiences of soldiers during the Civil War.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.