Death on the River
by John Wilson
- Commended, TriState YA Review Group Book of Note
- Commended, Junior Library Guild Selection
- Commended, Resource Links "The Year's Best"
"Set during the last year of the American Civil War, this grim portrayal of the brutality of war through the eyes of a young soldier, Jake Clay as he joins the Union Army in the spring of 1864, determined to make his parents proud. His dreams of glory vanish, however, when he is wounded and taken prisoner in his first battle at Cold Harbor, Virginia, and confined to the Confederate prison camp at Andersonville, where 30,000 soldiers face violence, disease and starvation. Frightened and disillusioned, Jake takes up with Billy Sharp, an unscrupulous opportunist who shows him how to survive, no matter what the cost. By the war's end Jake's sleep is haunted by the ghosts of those who have died so he could live. When the camp is liberated, Jake and Billy head north on the Mississippi riverboat Sultana, overcrowded far beyond its capacity. Unknown to Jake, the fateful journey up river will come closer to killing him than Andersonville did, but it will also provide him with his one chance at redemption."
close this panel"Provides a vivid picture of the horrors of the Andersonville prison camp."
"John Wilson has crafted a compelling story that seamlessly incorporates a number of key events in American history This sense of connection with the past that Wilson's story inspires is one of the novel's strongest features. Recommended."
"The story does a good job of illustrating the realities of war and accurate historical details. Recommended."
"Illustrates very well that under circumstances like these, there are no easy, "good" choices, and it avoids casting "good" and "bad" around North/South lines...The depiction of the harsh life of a prison camp is accurate and worth a read."
"This book does a great job of depicting the horrors of war The accuracy of the story is amazing, the characters are well-developed, and the plot is engaging. Readers who like historical fiction, war stories, and survival books will all enjoy reading Death on the River."
"A well-written book that will provide the reader with an understanding [and] insight into the perils of war. The author did a fantastic job of relating the cruelties of war without making it gruesome for young readers...Recommended."
"[An] engrossing, vivid and even horrifying read that cannons into the United States' bloody 1860s Offer[s] some startlingly resonant moments for his adolescent audience."
"Teen fiction rarely gets so involved with notions of morality in war, and this is a thoughtful, provocative work."
"[Wilson] has captured the struggles of young soldiers faced with making impossible choices in order to survive in war Wilson's gripping descriptions of bloody battles, abominable prison conditions, and man's inhumanity to man will capture the imagination of readers wanting to know more about the American Civil War."
"The strength of the novel is in Wilson's descriptions of both the moral and physical filth found at the prison camp. Readers feel Jake's disgust and fear."
"This historical coming-of-age novel is so filled with adventure that it might very well lead its young readers to search for more books on the American Civil War Here's hoping that books like Death on the River help spawn a new generation of amateur historians."
"Wilson dramatically reveals the difficult choices Jake must make to survive."
"Jake is a believable protagonist who matures and gains integrity by the end of the story. Perfect for reluctant readers needing a historical fiction or a novel set in the Civil War era."
"Wilson paints an engrossing picture of the brutal life of these soldiers...Most young readers, especially boys, will be fascinated by Jakes' adventure, and will likely find it shocking to learn that anyone could endure such hell."
"This riveting look at the Civil War's horrifying Andersonville prison through the eyes of an 18-year-old inmate has the power to shock and to compel young readers' interest while uncovering exciting history for them. Wilson doesn't shove the history down his readers' throats. He merely writes a tension-filled story packed with appalling events that really happened...This engrossing novel leaves an enduring impression."
"[Wilson] does a great job. In fact, sometimes in Death on the River if anything it's too good an illumination. Though he (thankfully) brings little of the actual gore, we feel the horrors of war very keenly. It's a lesson it's always good to remember: one we are not able to forget."
