Hear the Wind Blow [Hardcover]

Grade 5-8-Through the eyes of Haswell Colby Magruder, readers see and experience the horrors of the Civil War. Set in Shenandoah, VA, the story opens as the 13-year-old agrees to hide a wounded Confederate soldier. The Yankees' discovery of the young man on the Magruder farm and their subsequent retaliation starts a sequence of events that culminates with Haswell's escape with his seven-year-old sister, and his later solo journey in search of his older brother, who is fighting in the war. Although the main characters are from the South, Hahn succeeds in writing about the horrors of war without really taking sides. War is the villain here, and people from both sides are its victims. This is a wonderfully written story peopled by believable, three-dimensional characters who exhibit fear, courage, love, hate, compassion, prejudice, and understanding. The drama of the Civil War and the fine storytelling and characterization hook readers from the outset. As in Promises to the Dead (Clarion, 2000), Hahn deals here with the exercise of compassion in the face of danger. This selection is an excellent choice to add to other historical fiction on the Civil War such as Gary Paulsen's Soldier's Heart (Delacorte, 1998) and Ann Rinaldi's Amelia's War (Scholastic, 1999).
Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 6-9. Like Hahn's Stepping on the Cracks (1991), this stirring novel tells a war story through the eyes of a young person. It's the end of the Civil War in Northern Virginia, and 13-year-old Haswell Magruder suddenly finds himself the head of his family. After Haswell hides a wounded Confederate soldier, the Yankees attack Haswell's mother and destroy the farm. The boy and his younger sister escape. Haswell leaves his sister with relatives in town and rides across the war-torn countryside in search of his wounded older brother. Hahn brings readers up close to the slaughter on both sides, presenting a picture of ordinary men who are not at all sure why they are fighting. It's odd that slavery is barely mentioned despite the huge cast. The action is fast and furious, and kids will be caught up in the story of soldiers and civilians and the horror of "simply following orders." Hazel Rochman
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"a hard-hitting Civil War novel...honest grapplings with complex issues...will win readers' interest and sympathy from the outset" (Publishers Weekly )

"vivid and accurate portrayal of the period...strong setting...entertaining and thought-provoking...a strong adventure...that resonates with universal themes." THE HORN BOOK (Horn Book )

"A memorable journey...a boy whom readers will care about, a first-rate story...an essential addition to Civil War collections." KIRKUS REVIEWS (Kirkus Reviews )

"wonderfully written story peopled by believable, three-dimensional characters...fine storytelling and characterization hook readers from the onset...an excellent choice." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (School Library Journal )

"brings readers up close . . . the action is fast and furious, and kids will be caught up in the story" BOOKLIST (Booklist, ALA )

"Even if the fiction shelves are drooping with middle-grade Civil War novels, find room to squeeze in one more." THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS (Bulletin of the Center for Children )

"well-written...Reluctant younger teens might find this book an easy, enjoyable read." VOYA (VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES (VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) )

On a cold, snowy night, Haswell Magruder makes a decision that will have a profound effect on his own life as well as the lives of all those he loves. A wounded Confederate soldier appears at the familys Virginia farm, and Haswell convinces his mother and sister to take the man in, despite the certain repercussions if the enemy Yankees were to catch them in such a "traitorous" act. Unfortunately, this is precisely what happens, setting off a horrific chain of events that leaves Haswells mother dead and the farmhouse burned to the ground. After leading his younger sister to safety with relatives, Haswell sets out on his journey in search of his older brother, a Confederate soldier. His quest is also a passage into manhood, as he experiences the last bloody days of the Civil War. Skillful storytelling, well-developed characters, and a fast-paced plot distinguish this compelling family story by an award-winning author.

Mary Downing Hahn, a former children's librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories, including Deep and Dark and Dangerous and The Old Willis Place. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her two cats, Oscar and Rufus.