Young Jethro Creighton grows from a boy to a man when he is left to take care of the family farm in Illinois during the difficult years of the Civil War.

Author Irene Hunt, who won the Newbery Medal for her novel Up a Road Slowly, went to live at her grandfather's farm in Illinois after her father's death in 1914. Her grandfather's stories of his boyhood during the Civil War became the basis for this compelling novel, Across Five Aprils. Although young Jethro Creighton never witnessed a battle, his life on the family farm in southern Illinois was shattered by the Civil War. He was nine years old in 1861 and over the next five years, he would learn that war deeply affects lives well beyond its gruesome battlefields. Join with narrator Terry Bregy as he brings to life one boy's story-how Jethro grows from a sensitive, carefree child to a man before his time, learning to face each day with courage and finally, hope.

Juvenile Fiction. Historical Fiction. HTML:

The unforgettable story of young Jethro Creighton who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War.

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Historical Fiction. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML:The Newbery Award-winning author of Up a Road Slowly presents the unforgettable story of Jethro Creighton—a brave boy who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War.
In 1861, America is on the cusp of war, and young Jethro Creighton is just nine-years-old. His brother, Tom, and his cousin, Eb, are both of fighting age. As Jethro's family is pulled into the conflict between the North and the South, loyalties are divided, dreams are threatened, and their bonds are put to the test in this heart-wrenching, coming of age story. 
“Drawing from family records and from stories told by her grandfather, the author has, in an uncommonly fine narrative, created living characters and vividly reconstructed a crucial period of history.”—Booklist.

Southern Illinois is a place of mixed emotions as the American Civil War erupts. For the Creightons, the war lures two sons to the Union army and one to the Confederacy, leaving 10-year-old Jethro to care for the family farm. As the war rages, Jethro does whatever he can to learn about the fates of his brothers, while the Creighton family faces its own danger. Some townspeople can't forgive the Creightons for having a rebel son-and they're willing to use violence to make their feelings known. In a state torn by conflicting loyalties, Jethro is forced to grow up quickly to preserve his family and their home. Across Five Aprils is a powerful classic from Newbery Medal-winning author Irene Hunt. Tom Stechschulte's homespun narration brings out the spirit and courage of a boy who shoulders a tremendous load-and becomes a young man in the process.

During the Civil War, nine-year-old Jethro must run the family farm in southern Illinois almost alone.

Each succeeding spring brings a young Illinois boy closer to manhood as he faces the harsh realities of the American Civil War.

The story of a young boy, his family, and his neighbors who live in a backwoods Illinois community during the period of the Civil War.

Jethro, who is nine years old when the first April blooms, must run the farm in southern Illinois almost alone during the Civil War. Dangers on the home front prove as exciting as those in battle.

Young Jethro Creighton grows from a boy to a man when he is left to take care of the family farm in Illinois during the difficult years of the Civil War. A young boy's experiences during the Civil War in the backwoods of southern Illinois. One brother joins the Union forces, the other the Confederacy, and the family is divided. Annotation. The unforgettable story of young Jethro Creighton who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War. Annotation. The unforgettable story of young Jethro Creighton, who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War, by the Newbery Award-winning author of "Up a Road Slowly."

Although young Jethro Creighton never witnessed a battle, his life on the family farm in southern Illinois was shattered by the Civil War. He was nine years old in 1861 and over the next five years, he would learn that war deeply affects lives well beyond its gruesome battlefields.

The historical novel, Across five Aprils, set at the time of the Civil War, chronicles the war as well as the story of a young boy's growing up. A sourcebook of activities and related readings accompanies this coming-of-age novel.

Across Five Aprils

The unforgettable story of young Jethro Creighton, who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War, by the Newbery Award-winning author of Up a Road Slowly. An impressive book both as a historically authentic Civil War novel and as a beautifully written family story.--University of Chicago Center for Children's Books.

The Newbery Award-winning author of "Up a Road Slowly" presents the unforgettable story of a brave boy who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War.

In 1861, America is on the cusp of war, and young Jethro Creighton is just nine-years-old. His brother, Tom, and his cousin, Eb, are both of fighting age. As Jethro's family is pulled into the conflict between the North and the South, loyalties are divided, dreams are threatened, and their bonds are put to the test in this heart-wrenching, coming of age story.

A young boy's experiences during the Civil War in the backwoods of southern Illinois. One brother joins the Union forces, the other the Confederacy, and the family is divided.

Juvenile Fiction. Historical Fiction. cshowalter - Across five Aprils s about Jethro Creighton. He lives in a cabin. His friend and teacher Shadrach returns from Newton with news that the war has begun. Jethro has three brothers Bill,Tom,John, Nd his cousin Eb. Jethro doesn't like the split between them because 3 join the Union Army and 1 joins the Confederacy. Shadrach joind the Union Army also. Jethro's friend Jenny is in love with Shadrach,but her father doesn't approve of marriage. Jethro's father dies from a heart atteck, now Jethro has to become the head of the house. One day Jethro travels to Newton then hears people talking about how evil his brothe is. Jethro is warned that those men are up to no good. After a few months the men are at it again, they sabotage the families farm by burnig down the farm and contaminating the water. Jethro finds out that his brother Tom is killed and that his cousin Eb is coming home. Jethro wrote a letter to President Lincon for help and begins to look up to him as a father. President Lincon replies,telling him he is already working on a program to except all willing soldiers back into the Union with little punishment. The family find out that Shadrach is wounded and in the hospital. Jenny goes to take care of him, and gets her fathers blessing. Jenny and Shadrach get married. Shadrach gets better, the war ends, and Jenny ,John,and Eb return to the mossi g farm. At the end Jethro find out that the presiden has been shot. He runs off but is found by Shadrach. Shadrach tells him that he and Jenny are going to collage and they will take him with them. HTML:

January 1, 2002
Narrator Terry Bregy adopts an appropriately boyish tone for his reading of Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt, a Newbery Honor Book in 1965. Bregy compels readers to hear young Jethro Creighton's account of how the horrifying events of the Civil War changed life on his family's Illinois farm, even so many miles from the front lines.

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The unforgettable story of young Jethro Creighton who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War.

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It is April 1861 when nine-year-old Jethro Creighton learns that the Civil War has broken out. Through the experiences of family members who fight in the war, related through their letters home, the issues and impact of the conflict are dramatically brought home to readers.

The pathos and tragedy of the Civil War are captured in this beautifully written story about young Jethro Creighton and his family and neighbors who live in a backwoods Illinois community.

Young Jethro Creighton grows from a boy to a man when he is left to take care of the family farm in Illinois during the difficult years of the Civil War. A young boy's experiences during the Civil War in the backwoods of southern Illinois. One brother joins the Union forces, the other the Confederacy, and the family is divided. The unforgettable story of young Jethro by the Newbery Award-winning author of "Up a Road Slowly.".

The story of a young boy, his family, and his neighbors who live in a backwoods Illinois community during the period of the Civil War. During the Civil War, nine-year-old Jethro must run the family farm in southern Illinois almost alone. Young Jethro Creighton grows from a boy to a man when he is left to take care of the family farm in Illinois during the difficult years of the Civil War.

The story of Jethro Creighton who comes of age during the Civil War.

The author's grandfather tells her stories of his boyhood during the Civil War which became the basis for this compelling novel. Although young Jethro never witnessed a battle, his life on the family farm in southern Illinois was shattered by the Civil War. Young Jethro Creighton grows from a boy to a man when he is left to take care of the family farm in Illinois during the difficult years of the Civil War.

An account of five years in a boy's life describes how he and his family meet the challenge of the Civil War

The unforgettable, deeply moving story of the five fateful years of the Civil War.

Young Jethro Creighton grows from a boy to a man when he is left to take care of the family farm in Illinois during the difficult years of the Civil War. The unforgettable story of young Jethro Creighton who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War.

Each succeeding spring brings a young Illinois boy closer to manhood as he faces the harsh realities of the American Civil War. Each succeeding spring brings a young Illinois boy closer to manhood as he faces the harsh realities of the American Civil War

Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero: The true story of a stray dog who joins his new master on the battlefields of the First World War. For his valorous actions, Sgt. Stubby is still recognized as the most decorated dog in American history. Johnny Tremain: Fourteen-year-old Johnny Tremain, an apprentice silversmith with a bright future ahead of him, injures his hand in a tragic accident, forcing him to look for other work. In his new job as a horse-boy, riding for the patriotic newspaper, The Boston Observer, and as a messenger for the Sons of Liberty, he encounters John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Dr. Joseph Warren. Soon Johnny is involved in the pivotal events shaping the American Revolution from the Boston Tea Party to the first shots fired at Lexington. Allies: It is June 6, 1944, D-Day, and Dee Carpenter (true name Dietrich Zimmermann), an underage private in the United States Army, is headed for Omaha Beach, seeking revenge for his uncle, who was arrested by Nazis when Dee was a little boy; meanwhile, Samira Zidano, an eleven-year old French-Algerian girl is looking for the French resistance, desperate to deliver the message that the invasion is about to begin, and get their help in freeing her mother--this is the most important day of the twentieth century, and both children want to fight, and survive. Across Five Aprils: Young Jethro Creighton grows from a boy to a man when he is left to take care of the family farm in Illinois during the difficult years of the Civil War.

An historical novel that describes the experiences of the Creightons, a family with divided loyalities during the Civil War. Jethro, a sensitive boy is left behind to run the family farm in Illinois, but he is not spared the realization of the horrors of war as experienced from the home front.

Young Jethro Craighton grows from a boy to a man when he is left to take care of the family farm in Illinois during the difficult years of the Civil War. Young Jethro Creighton grows from a boy to a man when he is left to take care of the family farm in Illinois during the difficult years of the Civil War.

Story of a young boy and his family and neighbors from backwoods Illinois as they cope with the tragedy of the Civil War.

A young boy comes of age during the turbulent years of the American Civil War.

Juvenile Fiction. Historical Fiction. In this 1964 Newbery Medal Honor Book, Jethro is a young farm boy in Illinois when the Civil War erupts. As he and his family confront the terror of war, he takes on huge responsibilities and becomes a wise and compassionate young man. Through conversations, newspaper articles and letters, narrator Brégy portrays the distinctive voices and phraseology of an earlier era, along with gentle humor and the reality of war. Brégy also projects a sense of wonder as he narrates the splendid text. The final bittersweet vignettes include a letter from Lincoln to Jethro and the story of Lincoln's shocking assassination. Hunt and Brégy add an outstanding audio volume to American historical fiction for young people. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine. HTML:

The unforgettable story of young Jethro Creighton who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War.

.

The historical novel, Across five Aprils, set at the time of the Civil War, chronicles the war as well as the story of a young boy's growing up.

Historical Fiction. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML:

January 1, 2002
Narrator Terry Bregy adopts an appropriately boyish tone for his reading of Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt, a Newbery Honor Book in 1965. Bregy compels readers to hear young Jethro Creighton's account of how the horrifying events of the Civil War changed life on his family's Illinois farm, even so many miles from the front lines.

. Well-written and researched, Hunt's Newbery Honor Book, which tells the story of the Creighton family's troubles during the Civil War, has been popular for close to four decades. Hailing from southern Illinois, the family sees members go off to fight on both sides, then loses one of its own at Shiloh. Tom Stechschulte's voice is energetic and lively, ably affecting a country accent for all characters, the men being more convincing than the women. However, all are done cleanly and without caricature. His deep voice is a natural for a narrative that takes us on a journey of some four years. M.T.F. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine. HTML:Author Irene Hunt, who won the Newbery Medal for her novel Up a Road Slowly, went to live at her grandfather's farm in Illinois after her father's death in 1914. Her grandfather's stories of his boyhood during the Civil War became the basis for this compelling novel, Across Five Aprils. Although young Jethro Creighton never witnessed a battle, his life on the family farm in southern Illinois was shattered by the Civil War. He was nine years old in 1861 and over the next five years, he would learn that war deeply affects lives well beyond its gruesome battlefields. Join with narrator Terry Bregy as he brings to life one boy's story—how Jethro grows from a sensitive, carefree child to a man before his time, learning to face each day with courage and finally, hope.

Relates one young man's life during the five years of the Civil War, as he grows from boyhood to manhood.

Southern Illinois is a place of mixed emotions as the American Civil War erupts. For the Creightons, the war lures two sons to the Union Army and one to the Confederacy, leaving 10-year-old Jethro to care for the family farm.

A boy, his family and his neighbors live through the tragic years of the Civil War that cut across five Aprils. This is an appealing family story as well as authentic history.

Juvenile Fiction. Historical Fiction. In this 1964 Newbery Medal Honor Book, Jethro is a young farm boy in Illinois when the Civil War erupts. As he and his family confront the terror of war, he takes on huge responsibilities and becomes a wise and compassionate young man. Through conversations, newspaper articles and letters, narrator Brégy portrays the distinctive voices and phraseology of an earlier era, along with gentle humor and the reality of war. Brégy also projects a sense of wonder as he narrates the splendid text. The final bittersweet vignettes include a letter from Lincoln to Jethro and the story of Lincoln's shocking assassination. Hunt and Brégy add an outstanding audio volume to American historical fiction for young people. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine. HTML:

January 1, 2002
Narrator Terry Bregy adopts an appropriately boyish tone for his reading of Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt, a Newbery Honor Book in 1965. Bregy compels readers to hear young Jethro Creighton's account of how the horrifying events of the Civil War changed life on his family's Illinois farm, even so many miles from the front lines.

. Well-written and researched, Hunt's Newbery Honor Book, which tells the story of the Creighton family's troubles during the Civil War, has been popular for close to four decades. Hailing from southern Illinois, the family sees members go off to fight on both sides, then loses one of its own at Shiloh. Tom Stechschulte's voice is energetic and lively, ably affecting a country accent for all characters, the men being more convincing than the women. However, all are done cleanly and without caricature. His deep voice is a natural for a narrative that takes us on a journey of some four years. M.T.F. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine. HTML:

The unforgettable story of young Jethro Creighton who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War.

.

HTML:

The unforgettable story of young Jethro Creighton who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War.

. Juvenile Fiction. Historical Fiction.

The unforgettable story of Jethro Creighton--a brave boy who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War

Each successful spring brings a young Illinois boy closer to manhood as he faces the harsh realities of the American Civil War. This is the Follett Prize book. It is, as the publisher claims, a book for all age levels, although older readers will be better able to appreciate its many nuances. It begins in April, 1861 on the Creighton farm in southern Illinois; it ends on the same farm in April, 1865, thus the title. April is the month of beginnings and endings, when the cold winds reluctantly give way to the soft breezes that signal rebirth. In 1861, young Jethro Creighton is warmed by the romantic idea of war; of banners flying, bands playing, men marching. By April 1865, he has lost his brother Tom, witnessed the burning of his father's barn because his brother Bill joined the Confederates and seen his father become an old man. He has himself gone from boyhood to manhood in these pages. The joy of peace is lost in the tragedy of Lincoln's assassination, yet life must go on, and Jethro faces his life with the maturity of one who has been tested. A beautifully written, spare prose makes all this come vividly, sometimes painfully, alive. Despite the large number of Civil War books, there is always room left for one like this.

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (1986)