Death on the River [Paperback]

Two new books from historical novelist John Wilson take young readers behind the scenes of two very different wars. Death on the River, set at the end of the American Civil War, follows the exploits of Confederate soldier Jake Clay. Emulating his heroic older brother Jim, who died the previous year at the Battle of Antietam, Jake enlists at just 17. In his first battle, however, he is captured and sent to a crowded prison camp where murder is commonplace and diseased prisoners count themselves lucky if they can catch a rat to eat. Taking up with a manipulative man named Billy, Jake is forced to rationalize his feelings of guilt over the crimes Billy commits to keep them both alive. Wilson paints an engrossing picture of the brutal life of these soldiers. The story, which is loosely based on first-person accounts of the war, at times descends into excruciating horror, such as when Jake has to cut off a fellow prisoner’s diseased toes so that the prisoner will be able to walk. Most young readers, especially boys, will be fascinated by Jake’s adventure, and will likely find it shocking to learn that anyone could endure such hell. One quibble about this otherwise excellent book: nowhere does it detail the reasons for the Civil War. Aside from one passing reference to black soldiers, there is no mention of the issues that caused the war. Wilson is certainly adept enough to have addressed the subject, so the omission seems peculiar. If Death on the River comes up short on historical context, Wilson’s other war book this season overflows with the stuff. The first novel in a proposed trilogy, Crusade is an astonishingly nuanced and masterfully told story of two teenage boys who become embroiled in the Roman Catholic Church’s 13th-century crusade against the Cathars, a pacifist, itinerant Christian sect in southern France that followed the teachings of Jesus but did not believe in his divinity. In a foreword, Wilson explains that an actual crusade was waged against them, leading to their complete eradication. Wilson’s dual protagonists, both Catholics raised in an orphanage, start out as close friends but are slowly pulled to opposite sides of the conflict. John, a liberal-minded realist who aspires to be an artist, is drawn to the Cathars and their love of knowledge. Peter, a conservative paranoid beset by horrible visions of death, becomes a monk and a protégé to the Papacy’s leader of the crusade. Catholic crusaders are portrayed as thoroughly despicable and evil here, while the Cathars are gentle and noble. Sieges of castles abound, with grisly swordplay and fascinating explanations of the machinery used to breach walls. Characters such as a horrible axe-wielding knight, a rat-faced inquisitor, a wizened Moor, and a doe-eyed Andalusian beauty fill out the cast nicely. Religious philosophy is at times thickly applied here, but there’s enough intrigue and action to propel most readers through that material. Hardline believers may take exception to some content; indeed, the “secret” of the subtitle is that the Cathars possessed the actual Gospel of Jesus, written by Jesus after the crucifixion and proving he was not divine. In a particularly fascinating manner, John is entrusted with the gospel, and when he leaves France for Moorish Spain at the end of the tale, one can’t help wondering where his special burden will lead him in book two.

"Teen fiction rarely gets so involved with notions of morality in war, and this is a thoughtful, provocative work." (Booklist 20091201)

"[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." (The Globe and Mail 20100101)

"[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." (January Magazine 20091001)

"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." (VOYA 20100401)

"The story does a good job of illustrating the realities of war and accurate historical details. Recommended." (Library Media Connection 20100302)

"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." (Quill & Quire 20100101)

"Wilson dramatically reveals the difficult choices Jake must make to survive." (The Horn Book Guide 20090915)

"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." (CCYAB Book Notes 20091101)

"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." (Tri State Young Adult Book Review Committee 20091001)

"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." (Kirkus Reviews 20100815)

"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." (School Library Journal 20091012)

"[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." (Resource Links 20090911)

"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." (TeensReadToo.com 20100301)

"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." (Book Chase blog )

"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." (CM Magazine )

"Provides a vivid picture of the horrors of the Andersonville prison camp." (Washington State YA Review )