Setting
In what state does the Creighton family live?
Illinois
Who is the young main character of the novel?
Jethro Creighton
What happens to Jethro when he goes to town with Jenny and discovers that people are preparing for the war?
He sees the excitement and arguments surrounding the comingwar and begins to realize how deeply the conflict is affecting his community.
What theme is shown when John and Bill choose different sides of the Civil War?
Conflict can divide families, even when family members love each other.
Who was the president of the United States when the Civil War began?
Who is Abraham Lincoln?
What season is it when the novel begins, and how does the weather affect the Creighton family’s daily life?
Spring; the family is busy with planting and farm work, showing that life continues even as the country moves toward war.
Which of Jethro’s brothers supports the Confederacy?
Bill
What important decision does John make after the Civil War begins?
John decides to enlist in the Union Army.
Jethro does not immediately choose a side in the war. What does this suggest about making decisions during a conflict?
It is important to think carefully and understand different viewpoints before making a decision.
What was the name of the army that fought to preserve (keep) the United States together during the Civil War?
Union
w does the location of the Creighton farm make the family’s situation during the Civil War especially difficult?
The family lives in southern Illinois, near areas with strong Confederate sympathies, so they are surrounded by people who may support different sides of the war.
What is the name of Jenny's fiance?
Shad
What responsibility does Jethro take on as the older boys leave or become involved in the war?
He takes on more work and responsibility on the family farm.
What does Jethro’s reaction to the war suggest about the importance of thinking for yourself?
It suggests that people should consider different viewpoints and make their own decisions instead of blindly following others.
What event is generally considered the beginning of the Civil War?
What is the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861?
How does the peaceful farm setting contrast with the events happening across the country?
The Creighton farm is focused on ordinary work and family life, while the country is becoming divided and preparing for war.
How is Jethro a dynamic character?
He grows in maturity and responsibility while trying to process the war.
Why does Jethro become responsible for helping run the farm while his brothers are away?
Several of his older brothers leave home because of the war, leavingJethro to take on more work and responsibilities.
The Creighton family is divided over the war. What does this division suggest about the novel’s message about loyalty?
Loyalty can be complicated. A person can love their family while disagreeing strongly with them, and choosing what one believes is right can sometimes create painful consequences.
What document issued by Abraham Lincoln declared enslaved peoplein Confederate states to be free?
the Emancipation Proclamation
Why is the setting of southern Illinois important to the novel’s conflict between family members?
Bill supports the Confederacy while John supports the Union, showing how the national conflict reaches into their home and community.
How is Jethro different from his older brothers when it comes to the Civil War?
Jethro is still trying to understand the conflict instead of strongly choosing a side. He listens to different opinions and begins developing his own understanding of the war.
How do John and Bill’s different choices demonstrate the larger conflict of the novel?
Their opposing choices show how the Civil War divides not only the country but also families. John and Bill love the same family but believe strongly in opposing sides.
Jethro faces difficult choices as the Civil War begins to affect his family and community. What theme about growing up during difficult times is developed in these chapters, and how does Jethro’s experience help reveal this theme?
hard times can force people to grow up quicklyand take on responsibilities they never expected. Jethro must deal with the effects of the war on his family while learning to make difficult decisions. His experiences show how responsibility and hardship can change a young person.
Why was the Battle of Gettysburg considered a major turning point in the Civil War?
the Union victory stopped Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North and weakened the Confederacy's chances of winning the war