Christopher Moning (Children's Literature)
First time novelist Pat Hughes shows the skill of the most seasoned writer in this multi-layered tale of the Civil War, Missouri style. Fifteen-year-old Matt Howard's loyalties lie with the South--that's where his deceased father's were, and that is where his best friend, Jesse's are. In Matt's world there are "Jahawkers," Northern supporters who cross the border from Kansas and raid homesteads, and "Bushwhackers," Southern backers who viciously return like for like. Matt barely has time to get involved with the guerrilla tactics, however. He is too busy trying to make his family farm support his mother and five siblings. Caught between the loyalties of his mother's Northern relatives and Jesse's adoration of brush-dwelling Rebel bands who serve the charismatic leader, Quantrill, Matt has half a mind to stay behind when his family plans to head for Pennsylvania. The lines of good and evil are not so clearly drawn as some readers would have it, but therein lies the genius of this book. Atrocities, as well as kindnesses, are committed by parties on both sides of the conflict, thus creating a balanced and chillingly realistic setting. Authentic dialogue adds the perfect touch to this harrowing, heart-smashing account of some of the darkest days in American history. Read all the history you want. You'll seldom get closer to feeling it than with this gem. 2003, Farrar Straus Giroux, $18.00. Ages 12 up.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2003 (Vol. 71, No. 14))
All Matt Howard wants to do is farm his father's land, but the Civil War in Missouri has stirred up forces beyond his control. Southern bushwhackers are fighting Northern jayhawkers, and Federal troops are enmeshed in the chaos. Staying neutral is difficult for Matt; his best friend Jesse is a guerrilla fighter for the Secesh, and his mother wants to return to her family in the North. Showing loyalty to either side is dangerous, and in a modern anti-war sentiment, Matt realizes that either way-Union or Secesh-war kills children, destroys families, and spawns refugees. The best Matt can do is follow his father's advice to rely on himself and trust his own judgment, and the whole story plays out his one decision: to leave or stay. Newcomer Hughes, after a fair amount of explaining the historical context early in the narrative, keeps her focus particular, though perhaps too small for Civil War buffs looking for a larger panorama. Those sticking with it, though, will get a fresh, in-depth lesson on the nature of war, along with a surprise about Jesse's identity. (author's note) 2003, Farrar Straus & Giroux, $18.00. Category: Fiction. Ages 12 up. © 2003 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Brenda Ethridge Ferguson (Library Media Connection, March 2004)
This is not your usual Civil War novel; its setting and perspective is that of a Border State where tensions run high and danger comes with every knock at the door. In 1863, Matt and Jesse are two 15-year-old Missourians who love to hunt, farm, and ride horses. Matt's family has determined to stay neutral in the war that is swirling about them, but Jesse's family is clearly "Secesh" (secessionists). Matt's loyalties lean in the Southern direction, as his dead father was a Southerner. Grave dangers abound regardless of one's loyalties, either Union or Confederate. Guerrillas and bushwhackers terrorize Northern loyalists while the militia, jayhawkers, and Federals strike fear in the hearts of Southern sympathizers. Jesse's brother, Buck, is a guerrilla, and the Federals watch the two young friends because of this. The story is an often tense but very human portrayal of the strife within this Border State caught in the middle of a nation torn apart. The story has an interesting plot, good characterization, and historical significance. In the author's notes at the end of the book, readers learn that although Matt is a totally fictitious character, Jesse and Buck (better known as Frank) were actual people. This novel is based on some facts about the James brothers' early years. Recommended. 2003, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 329pp., $18 hc. Ages 11 to 18.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2004)
Matt and Jesse's friendship is tested when the teens find themselves in the middle of the Rebel and Union conflict in Missouri during the Civil War. While Matt backs the Rebel guerrillas, his family remains neutral. Jesse's family, however, is vocal about their support of the Rebels. Hughes provides a gripping, if overlong, look at an often-neglected aspect of the Civil War. Category: Older Fiction. 2003, Farrar, 329pp, $18.00. Ages 12 to 14. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.

Rosemary Moran (VOYA, December 2003 (Vol. 26, No. 5))
Jesse and Matt are fifteen-year-old Missouri farm boys who spend their summer debating the merits of the Union and Secessionist causes. Jesse will join his brother Buck as a member of Quantrill's band. Matt is torn between the two sides and the wishes of his officially neutral mother. Lawlessness prevails throughout the area and the families are terrified of what might happen to them and their land. Matt's widowed mother makes arrangements for her family to travel to Pennsylvania to stay with her parents, but Matt does not want to leave his friend, Jesse, and Jesse's pretty younger sister. Matt does not understand the motives of the adults around him, nor does he understand the fighting and killing that is going on nearby. Ultimately, he helps Jesse leave to join Quantrill and then returns to his family to prepare for their trek to Pennsylvania. First as members of Quantrill's Raiders and then as bank robbers, Frank and Jesse James were both revered and reviled in the late nineteenth century. The reader knows early on that Jesse is destined to become the infamous outlaw. In fictionalizing Jesse's adolescent years, the author presents both sides of the Civil War, alluding to causes other than slavery as the basis for the war. Neither Matt nor Jesse becomes quite real to the reader as characters, however, and the plot is slow-paced. The artwork on the cover does little to draw teens to this novel. VOYA CODES: 2Q 2P M J (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2003, Farrar Straus Giroux, 328p., $18. Ages 11 to 15.