What now?

When I was in middle school, historical fiction was my absolute most favorite genre.  Since then I have become more partial to fantasy, but I still have a fondness for historical fiction.  So I was excited to see Ann Rinaldi's Numbering All the Bones on this years Reading Olympic's list.

Eulinda is in a difficult spot, put more accurately her whole life has been a difficult spot.  See her mother is a slave but her father is the owner of the plantation.  Because of that she gets certain privileges, she has learned to read and write, she stays in the plantation house-not the slave quarters, but her master will not formally acknowledge that she is his daughter.  Without that she is still just a slave in the South.  But then the Civil War ends. 

From our vantage point it's easy to think the Civil War has ended, the Emancipation Proclamation has been signed, problem solved.  But the reality was far messier.  For all of its faults the plantation was Eulinda's home.  Her younger brother has been sold away and her older brother is gone, having left to fight for the North.  

Eulinda feels like she has limited options.  That is until Clara Barton arrives.  Numbering All the Bones was an exceptional work of historical fiction not only because Eulinda's story is captivating and captures the essence of struggles that actually happened, but also because it inspired me to learn more about actual historical figures- like Clara Barton.  

Creating a new life in a new world...that's kids stuff.