The Songs of Stones River — Jessica Gunderson

This historical novel tells the story of two boys living in the South during the tragic days of the Civil War. James is a proud Southerner who feels responsible for providing for his newly widowed mother and his younger sister. Eli is the lone outdoor slave of a bitter man who sold off Eli's mother two years earlier. When circumstances force them to work side by side, each boy's eyes are opened to new ways of thinking, leading to an exciting conclusion. Filled with thoughtful prose and historical references, The Songs of Stone River brings the Civil War era to life.