Soldier's Heart : Being the Story of the Enlistment and Due Service of the Boy Charley Goddard in the First Minnesota Volunteers

Amazon.com

In spare, almost biblical prose, Gary Paulsen writes of the horrors of combat in a Civil War novella that puts a powerful, more contemporary spin on Stephen Crane's classic The Red Badge of Courage. Based on the life of a real boy, it tells the story of Charley Goddard, who lies his way into the Union Army at the age of 15. Charley has never been anyplace beyond Winona, Minnesota, and thinks war would be a great adventure. And it is--at first--as his regiment marches off through cheering crowds and pretty, flag-waving girls. But then comes the battle. Charley screams, "Make it stop now!" disbelieving that anything so horrible could be real. Paulsen is unsparing in the details of what actually happens on the battlefield: the living men suddenly blown into pieces, the agony and fear, the noise and terror, the stinking corpses. After many battles, Charley is wounded and sent home an old man before he is 20, his will to live destroyed by combat fatigue--leaving him with a "soldier's heart." Paulsen has received the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the ALAN Award, and several Newbery Honor awards for previous work, but this superb, small masterpiece transcends any of his earlier titles in its remarkable, memorable intensity and power. (Ages 12 to 15) --Patty Campbell

Book Description

In June 1861, when the Civil War began, Charley Goddard enlisted in the First Minnesota Volunteers. He was 15. He didn't know what a "shooting war" meant or what he was fighting for. But he didn't want to miss out on a great adventure.

The "shooting war" turned out to be the horror of combat and the wild luck of survival; how it feels to cross a field toward the enemy, waiting for fire. When he entered the service he was a boy. When he came back he was different; he was only 19, but he was a man with "soldier's heart," later known as "battle fatigue."

Customer Reviews:

A Teenager in the Civil War.......2007-07-03

In 1861 Charley is fifteen years old, living on a farm in Minnesota with his mother and little brother. Everyone has heard the rumor that there is to be a war, with those in the North fighting to stop the Southern rebels from doing damage to the country. No one is quite sure if the war is really going to happen, but Charley is determined to be a part of it if it is.

He convinces his mother that he can handle himself as a soldier and tells her the eleven dollars a month he'll be paid will help her out, and she agrees to let him go. He signs up, lying about his age so they will let him into the army, and begins his training.

At first things are horribly boring. The volunteer military spends much of its time sitting around, doing drills that don't use up their ammunition, and eating really bad food. Charley is considering deserting and simply going home, when finally his unit marches into battle.

Their first battle is a bloodbath--his unit tries to march across an open field while rebel soldiers shoot at them from above. Charley isn't sure what he thought a shooting war would be like, but it was certainly nothing like this. As the war continues and Charley is a part of more and more battles, he learns what war really is, and sees more than his share of the horror of it.

I liked that war wasn't glamorized at all in this book--the narrator spoke of the boredom between battles and the horror of the battles themselves. Nothing was made out to be fun about it. I also liked that Charley was so shocked and couldn't get over what he had seen. He was just a kid when he went into war and it wouldn't have been realistic for him to handle it well.

However, this book was a little too simplistic. It didn't give any of the nuances of Charley's thoughts and feelings, and didn't explore the feelings of anyone except this one main character. I would have liked a bit more depth.

Charley is a freak (i think).......2007-05-29

I definitely recommend this book to all readers. Gary Paulsen does a great job in showing how Charley feels that he will certainly die, and how he changes from a happy farmer to a man that will kill to stay alive. This was one of the greatest historical fiction books that I have ever read because of all the amazing events that actually took place. For example, Charley and another man use dead bodies to build a wall to stop a vicious wind. This book had a lot of surprises, like when Charley is hit and wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. I couldn't wait to turn the page because of all these horrendous and shocking surprises. Because this book is only 102 pages, it makes for an astonishing quick read.

A kid at war........2007-05-20

As already stated, this is a fictionalized story of a young 15 year Minnesota boy who fought in the Civil War. Paulsen takes liberties in relating the short life of Charley Goddard. Goddard participated in many major battles of the Civil War such as Bull Run and Gettysburg. He shows the cost of war on the youths that fight it by relating the term soldier's heart. A soldier's heart becomes hardened by the experience of death in battle. He no longer fears death, viewing it as a way to meet the soldiers who proceeded him in death.

This is a story detailing the cruelity of battle. Battle hardens our soldiers and puts severe strains on their mentail peace. This should be remembered in terms of the cost are soldiers are now going through.

Chris's Review.......2007-05-14

Soldier's Heart
By: Gary Paulsen

Number of pages: 102 Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Laurel Leaf

Do you like a book with action, drama, and a main character with lots of bravery? Then you should pick up the book Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen.
Soldier's Heart is based on a true story about a fifteen-year-old boy in Minnesota named Charley Goddard, who lies about his age to join the First Volunteers of Minnesota, to fight in the Civil War.
The main character in the story is a young man, Charley, for his age, Charley is a very mature man and is a very hard worker in every aspect. When Charley is sent off to get prepared for the war, he battles some conflicts. One conflict that he has to battle is that his mother sends him letters saying the she wants him to come back home. Charley feels bad and at first wants to come home, but these thoughts gradually leave.
I like this book for many reasons. One reason was that I like to read about historical fiction, and about the Civil War. Another reason why I like this book was because the main character, "Charley," was only fifteen, and I can relate a lot to the things that he thought and what was going on in his head. The last reason is because the author had a good perspective of what went on during the war.
Gary Paulsen was the author of the book Soldier's Heart. He has also written many other books such as Brian's Winter, Hatchet, The Crossing, The Rifle, and Danger on the Midnight River. Paulsen is able to have a great knowledge because he went to war and fought for our country.
The part in the story that I did not care for was the battlefields. They seemed like they were made up, because of the location. I also did not like how the story had started out. I would have liked to know a little bit more about his family and the backgrounds that Charley lived in.
I would give this book four out of five stars. I would recommend this book to people who like to know historical facts about the Civil War and the battles that were fought in it. Overall, Soldier's Heart is an exciting, historical, and adventurous book that anyone would enjoy to read.

Not what i expected but a good read.......2007-03-09

I didn't realize how short the book was until I already recieved it. It was my fault for not seeing it on the display page but despite how short it is it still provides the reader with an idea of how being on a battlefield during the civil war would be like.

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy (Bloody Jack Adventures)

Average customer rating:

Bloody Jack
Brilliant, original, and thrillingly believable
A Very Good Book
Highly recommend!
All-time best series I have EVER read!

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy (Bloody Jack Adventures)
Louis A. Meyer
Manufacturer: Harcourt Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Love & Romance | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Historical Fiction | History & Historical Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 015205085X

Book Description

Life as a ship's boy aboard HMS Dolphin is a dream come true for Jacky Faber. Gone are the days of scavenging for food and fighting for survival on the streets of eighteenth-century London. Instead, Jacky is becoming a skilled and respected sailor as the crew pursues pirates on the high seas.
There's only one problem: Jacky is a girl. And she will have to use every bit of her spirit, wit, and courage to keep the crew from discovering her secret. This could be the adventure of her life--if only she doesn't get caught. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Bloody Jack.......2007-09-29

Excellent! Adventure, great characters, great writing, a little romance. I am looking forward to reading the whole series. Recommended for 13yrs plus

Brilliant, original, and thrillingly believable.......2007-03-31

What an excellent read! The writing is superb, the characters are dynamic, and the story as perfectly balanced, detailed, and deft as the ship on which it's set! I couldn't have enjoyed Jacky's story or its telling more. This writer is truly an adept artist. Were I 15 years younger (i.e. 9 yrs old), I've no doubt I'd be arguing with the librarian that the book belongs in the nonfiction shelves. Such a true-to-life adventure.

A Very Good Book.......2007-02-25

I would highly recommend this book to anyone! Nothing like a good adventure, eh?

Highly recommend!.......2007-01-08

This book is extremely entertaining and easy to read. It does take some getting use to in the beginning because of how the main character speaks, but you quickly get used to her street slang and humor. The book is a quick read and I think that anyone would enjoy it- boy, girl, adult, etc. I got it for Christmas and couldn't put it down the moment I started to read it because it was so interesting and funny.. just couldn't help but want to know what happens next! The ending is a bit abrupt but don't worry about that.. the second book, Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber continues right from where the first left off. I purchased all the books in the series and can't wait to read them all. I had some trouble putting them in order as they are not numbered on Amazon or on the covers but here they are:

Book 1: Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventure of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy

Book 2: Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman, and Fine Lady

Book 3: Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber

Book 4: In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of the Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber

Enjoy!

PS: If you liked this book I highly recommend Tamora Pierce's "Alanna" quartet as well as "Protector of the Small" quartet. They're great!

All-time best series I have EVER read!.......2007-01-06

I adore the bloody jack books. I was given them to read by two friends who promised that they were wonderful. I was skeptical, but so pleasantly surprised! My friends had promised pirate books, but I don't really think of them as particularly pirate-y. I have since recommended them to 4 people (a mix of friends and relatives, including an aunt who teaches 4th grade,) and every one of them has fallen in love with Jacky Faber, and her 'mis'-adventures. Utterly charming and always hilarious, these are currently my absolute favorite books.

THE CLIQUE SERIES 4 BOOK SET (YOUR CHOICE OF ANY FOUR CLIQUE SERIES BOOKS)

Average customer rating:

THE CLIQUE SERIES 4 BOOK SET (YOUR CHOICE OF ANY FOUR CLIQUE SERIES BOOKS)
LISI HARRISON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000JD7GL4

Product Description

SAVE ON SHIPPING!!! GET ALL YOUR CLIQUE SERIES BOOKS FROM FIFTH AVENUE BOOKS!!!

Average customer rating:

A Boy Is a Boy: The Fun of Being a Boy

Manufacturer: Franklin Watts, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

The Clique Seven Book Set! (Get All Seven in this exciting series for one low price, Just $3.49 Shipping!)

Average customer rating:

The Clique Seven Book Set! (Get All Seven in this exciting series for one low price, Just $3.49 Shipping!)
LISI HARRISON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

Clique #8, The: Sealed with a Diss: A Clique Novel (Clique Series)

ASIN: B000NDPUZY

Product Description

Get the complete seven book set including: The Clique, Best Friends For Never, Revenge of the Wannabees, Invasion of the Boy Snatchers, Pretty Committee, Dial "L" For Loser, and It's Not Easy Being Mean!

Average customer rating:

Intelligent, family friendly Sci-fi adventure
Too short
Great Novella
Just an FYI...

The Space Boy
Orson Scott Card
Manufacturer: Subterranean Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1596061111
Release Date: 2007-08-20

Product Description

Is it space that children dream of, or merely visiting other worlds? Todd had always set his heart on being an astronaut, but when he meets an alien and travels to another world, he doesn't use a spaceship, he just hangs out in his own back yard. In Space Boy, Orson Scott Card, author of Ender's Game, takes readers into a strange and wonderful future, where people from another world regularly visit Earth - usually without being noticed. And when humans travel to their world, they find themselves dangerously weak and powerless. Until Todd finds a way to set both worlds to rights. By turns funny and painful, Space Boy is Card at his best, exploring human nature for the entertainment of readers young and old.

Customer Reviews:

Intelligent, family friendly Sci-fi adventure.......2007-09-23

This is a great little book with adventure, a little bit of sci-fi, heaps of clever dialogue and a family that relies on each other, especially when it counts. It makes an ideal story to read out loud, in particular to boys 10 and up (if not younger). Fantastic story that treats boys as intelligent creatures!

Too short.......2007-09-09

I love Orson Scott Card; always. I loved Space Boy too, and thought it was a wonderful story. However, it seemed to me that it was just that; a story. I don't think it was developed enough to call it a novel and was a bit disappointed by its length or lack thereof.

Great Novella.......2007-08-23

One of the down sides of being an author that has written some of the most beloved stories in a genre is the benchmark that you set for yourself. Is this another "Seventh Son", or "Enders Game"? No it is not. It is a cute story, really YA sci-fi, is that a bad thing? No it is not. Another favorite author of mine, when asked how long a story should be replied, "As long as it needs to be". This is a good story that is exactly as long as it needs to be (I read it in about an hour).

I really liked this book and was surprised to find it signed by the author, because when I ordered it I was just excited to get a new OSC story. When I opened it I saw the price was for signed edition, and thought that was an extra plus. This is also a nicely bound edition making it a nice gift for any OSC fan.

This is a much lighter read than any other OSC I have read, it is just a fun little book, so enjoy!

Just an FYI..........2007-08-20

For those who have read a story by Card called "Space Boy" in the Escape from Earth anthology, yes, this is the exact same story. I exchanged emails with the publisher and they confirmed this, letting me know that the reason there are more pages in this version is due to a difference in print size and the addition of illustrations; there are no changes to the text of the story. So, if you're looking for a nicely bound, illustrated, stand-alone copy of Card's story to add to your collection, this is the one to purchase. Otherwise, if you're only interested in stories that you haven't already read, and you've already read the Escape from Earth anthology, you can skip this one.

P.S. If you're looking for the Escape from Earth anthology, there are a bunch of used copies right here for less than $5. The anthology is edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois, and the full title of the book is "Escape From Earth New Adventures in Space."

Every Man for Himself: Ten Original Stories About Being a Guy

Average customer rating:

Slow But Very Interesting

Every Man for Himself: Ten Original Stories About Being a Guy

Manufacturer: Dial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Short Story Collections | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Being a Teen | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0803728964

Book Description

Word on the street is that being a guy these days can be kinda rough. Well, here are ten fictional stories, some funny, some sad, that deal with that very subject. Stories about being a guy, written by guys. From Walter Dean Myers's story about a black kid who takes a white girl to the prom, to Mo Willems's comedy about an invincible kid who goes to a high school for superheroes, to graphic novelist Craig Thompson's story about the skaters vs. the wussy football players, each manages to ever-so-subtly reflect the modern-day concerns of guyhood.

Gathering together some of the most exciting writers of today and tomorrow, Every Man for Himself offers teen readers a great selection of honest and real stories about everyday guys who get pummeled by some life lessons . . . and still manage to come out on top.

Customer Reviews:

Slow But Very Interesting.......2006-06-14

This was a slow but very interesting book. A book combined with short stories bye many different authors. Lots of these stories were good and a lot were slow. Some were just sort of I didn't even know what was going on. One thing good about this book was the emotions I felt when reading it. I felt so many different emotions such as surprised, sort of creeped out, very glad and extremely sad. This book has taught me some very important life lessons though. Some of those are to stand up for my rights. Also to not judge anyone and to talk to them first to get to know them. My favorite story in this book was the Prom Prize by Walter Dean Myers. It was about an African American boy named Fly Williams. His friends thought it was funny if they ran a contest where girls put there names into a box and whatever name they drew Fly would have to go with her to the prom. It's a good story about teen pressure and what to do if you do get pressured. All together this is a really moving book and might help you in everyday life.

Redburn: His First Voyage, Being the Sailor-Boy, Confessions and Reminiscences of the Son-of-a-Gentleman, In the Merchant Service (Penguin English Library)

Average customer rating:

An American Classic
A great story, worth reading
A deep look at Melville's heart
A Literary HORROR
His First Voyage

Redburn: His First Voyage, Being the Sailor-Boy, Confessions and Reminiscences of the Son-of-a-Gentleman, In the Merchant Service (Penguin English Library)
Herman Melville , and Harold Beaver
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0140431055

Customer Reviews:

An American Classic.......2007-05-22

Sure, this novel may not be up there with other Melville novels, but I really do like this novel. The final few pages are some of Melville's best writing. The parts showing the poverty in England are touching and tragic.

A great story, worth reading.......2005-06-10

"If journals interest you, than by all means this is an excellent book" Heck yes,journals interest me- especially sea journals. Though this may not be a book for literary snobs, i enjoyed it very much. The story is supposed to be fiction, but I could easily believe Melville was describing scenes that he had personally witnessed. It must have been like writing his own journal, with keen insights into strange human quirks and scattered with observations about social issues like poverty and immigration. Not every book has to be a masterpiece to be worth reading! I just finished reading Billy Budd, and it was heavy going compared to the simpler language of Redburn.

A deep look at Melville's heart.......2001-07-11

There are those who read Moby-Dick and say they love it because they're supposed to, because it's marked as a classic American novel; and then there are those who love Moby-Dick because its miraculous prose, its Shakespearean characters and its spirit truly get inside them. Redburn is for the second group: any real fan of Melville's unique philosophy and thorough mastery of style will love this book. Redburn is, to be sure, no Moby-Dick -- it has none of the epic quality of that crowning jewel. But all of Melville's trademarks are here, in a plot which transcends its simple outline -- a boy from a formerly rich, now bankrupt family joins the crew of a merchant ship sailing to Liverpool and comes of age -- to reach the realm of genius. The poetically beautiful imagery and sparkling wit juxtaposed with profound melancholy jump out at the reader. But even more importantly, Redburn opens up a unique window on Herman Melville's soul. Elizabeth Hardwick, in her recent biography of Melville (which I also highly recommend), calls this his most personal work, and she's right -- where later works like Moby-Dick and Billy Budd hid Melville's real experiences behind an obscuring (if brilliant) curtain of fiction and the earliest novels like Typee and Omoo lacked depth in their rollickingly faithful accounts of Melville's sojourns among the Polynesians, Redburn has just the right balance of fact and fiction. It is in many ways a meditation on the author's once-illustrious father -- Allan Melville, who, just like Walter Redburn (the narrator's father) lost all his money and respect -- but it is equally a series of revelations about his youthful mind as he mulls over issues of time, the generational gap and social change. Read Redburn for a real glimpse of the man who would be the greatest American novelist.

A Literary HORROR.......2000-09-03

Let's get real here folks. This book is a literary disaster. Does the reviewer above want to argue that with me? Well, than he or she can talk to Melville himself. Melville wrote this book for money. It doesn't have the literary charm that comes with Melville's books. Moby Dick was a literary masterpiece. Redburn is garbage. It is simply a journal of his travels to Liverpool and back. If journals interest you, than by all means this is an excellent book. But this book was not written by Melville, rather by his quest for money while he was in poverty. I would give it negative stars, but Amazon.com doesn't give that as an option.

His First Voyage.......2000-08-14

"Redburn" is a fantastic story. It is complex, funny and mysterious. Using Wellingborough Redburn as his persona and narrator, Melville writes of his first voyage overseas, when as a young man of 19 he signs on as a common seaman on board the "Highlander", a merchant ship bount for Liverpool, England. In the first few chapters Redburn seems to be mocking himself, using a tongue-in-cheek tone as he describes his romantic notions of sailing to distant lands and his ineptitude as a sailor during his first weeks at sea. The crew mocks him because he is such a poor seaman; they humiliate and tease him. As the story evolves, Redburn becomes more objective and contemplative. He becomes an acute observer in recording the harshness of a sailor's life and in describing the individual characteristics of the Highlander's crew, especially one Jackson, a malignant and powerful sailor who dominates the crew with his relentless venom.

In Liverpool, Redburn meets Harry Bolton, a young man who attracts and fascinates him. Harry is obviously a gentleman, and although he is muscular and well built, he exudes a feminine charm. Harry is evasive about his past. Harry intrigues Redburn. Redburn admires Harry although he suspects him of an indefinable evil. Despite his misgivings about Harry, Redburn helps him get a job on the Highlander which, with 500 immigrants who board the ship in Liverpool embarks for America. Melville, through his alter ego, Redburn, tells of the harrowing problems on board the Highlander on the voyage back to America. He describes his strange, ongoing friendship with Harry who proves to be a terrible sailor. And he describes in penetrating detail the awful, slow death of Jackson and its effect on the crew.

Some Melville aficionados have implied that Melville reveals homosexual longings in describing Harry Bolton and his attraction to him. But I feel that Melville, like the poet he is, transcends gender when he focuses on the sensuous nature of form, whether ugly or beautiful. "Redburn" is an exalting story of a young man's first voyage. It involves the reader both physically and spiritually.

Average customer rating:
How Artists See People: Boy, Girl, Man, Woman
Colleen Carroll
Manufacturer: Abbeville Kids
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Conceptual | Other Media | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Art | Arts & Music | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Work: Farm Factory Home Office (How Artists See)

How Artists See Play: Sports Games Toys Imagination (How Artists See)

How Artists See Feelings: Joy, Sadness, Fear, Love (How Artists See)

How Artists See Cities: Streets Buildings Shops Transportation (How Artists See)

How Artists See Artists: Painter, Actor, Dancer, Musician (How Artists See)

ASIN: 0789204770

Average customer rating:
THE CLIQUE SERIES 2 BOOK SET ((YOUR CHOICE OF ANY TWO CLIQUE SERIES BOOKS))
LISI HARRISON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JD5RJW

Product Description

SAVE ON SHIPPING!!! GET ALL YOUR CLIQUE SERIES BOOKS FROM FIFTH AVENUE BOOKS!!!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books