From School Library Journal
Grade 6-8-After Henry Severn's father dies at sea, Henry's family becomes destitute. To escape the crushing poverty, the Severns move to Liverpool where a cousin helps the family by getting Henry and his brother jobs with a shipping concern. Henry eventually leaves the office and signs on with one of the company's ships, the new steamer Banshee. Banshee makes its way to the Bahamas and seeks its fortune breaking the Union blockade to Wilmington, NC to export cotton from the embattled Confederacy. The novel by G. Clifton Wisler (HarperCollins, 2000) makes use of contemporary documents since Banshee was a real vessel, although Henry Severn is a fictitious character. Aurally, the quality of the presentation is very clear. Gerard Doyle narrates capably in a well-paced reading. Called on to create a variety of accents, he does admirably on Irish and Liverpudlian but has noticeable difficulty with American Southern and African-American accents, sometimes reverting to a Liverpool accent. Wisler fails to convey Henry's desperate poverty in Ireland or the hardships of a seaman's life in a way that stays with readers. Female characters are portrayed as strong and capable. African Americans are shown with dignity and intelligence. Wisler conveys a humanity and creates a sympathy for the characters which is compelling. The story of blockade-runners is often glossed over in recounting the Civil War. This novel is accessible and enjoyable, and shows a side of the war of which many people are unaware. Appropriate for school and public libraries.
Mike Brown, Greenbelt Middle School, MDCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 5-8. Wisler has made a name for himself with his accurate, well-researched historical fiction featuring young people embroiled in the American Civil War. His latest novel may surprise readers by opening in Ireland rather than the war-torn U.S. Henry Severn's father has just died at sea. Help for the destitute family comes from Cousin Robert, employed by a shipping firm in Liverpool. Aboard the firm's swift, innovative steamship,
Banshee, Robert will sail to Nassau, and from there try to break through the Union ships blockading Confederate ports in America with needed supplies. Fourteen-year-old Henry joins the crew and relates what happens at the ports and aboard ship as the
Banshee perseveres until she is captured. The story is episodic and somewhat predictable, and the two girls Henry meets ashore come across as token female spokespersons. The blockade, however, gets a dramatic presentation children can relate to, and the focus on commerce as opposed to politics is unusual. Give this to children who enjoy a good sea story as well as to Civil War enthusiasts.
Catherine AndronikCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
