Historical fiction about the draft riots of 1863, in a screenplay format.

Walter Dean Myers makes an incredibly important contribution to literature for kids. He's always writing about topics that kids really want to know about in a sophisticated yet accessible way.

In this novel he uses a screenplay style like he did for Monster to write about the riots that took place in New York City during the Civil War. It's a part of American History that a lot of people don't know about, and Myers does an incredible job of bringing the experience to life in this book. He doesn't dumb anything down - the material is challenging, but he portrays the events so vividly that readers will want to understand it. ( )

RGG: Written as a screen play, a girl's sense of identity as a light-skinned irish / african american who can pass is brought into question by the Draft Riots in NYC during the time of the Civil War. The format makes following the story somewhat difficult, especially keeping track of the different characters. And the historical context may be unfamiliar to many readers.

Written in screenplay format, Myers recounts the events from the New York Draft Riots of 1863. Fifteen year old Claire is literally caught in the middle of rioting sides with a black father and Irish mother. She develops a solid friendship with Priscilla who teaches her about love, acceptance and trust.

Awards/Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews starred 08/01/09
Booklist starred 08/01/09
School Library Journal starred 09/01/09

The content of this book is so specific, it would be easier to use with a general curriculum topic of riots.

Even though the subject of the Draft Riots is fascinating, with its conflict between blacks and Irish Americans in 19th century New York City, the treatment by Myers is flawed. It is in the form of a screenplay. It may make a good movie, but when I read a play, I would rather have the story develop in an organic way. The back matter is all, where you get the facts behind the riots, and a timeline. Otherwise, the "play" feels like a fleshed out nonfiction book with characters thrown in who aren't really real. ( )