Rifles for Watie

De: Harold Keith

Narrado por: Tom Stechschulte

Newbery Medal Winner, 1958

With fighting erupting around his Kansas farm, 16-year-old Jefferson Davis Bussey can hardly wait to join the Union forces. He wants to defend his family from the dreaded Colonel Watie and his Cherokee Indian rebels. After enlisting, Jeff discovers the life of a soldier brings little glory and honor. During battle, his friends die around him. And when he infiltrates Watie’s camp as a spy, he discovers the enemy is much like himself—only fighting for a different cause. As Jeff collects information, he wonders if he will be able to betray his new rebel companions when the time comes for him to return to the Union forces. Historian and author Harold Keith packs this well-researched novel with fascinating details and breath-taking action. Rifles for Watie was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book and won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. Believable characters and vivid battle scenes burst from the pages of history with narrator Tom Stechschulte’s dramatic performance.

©1957 Harold Keith (P)1999 Recorded Books

Great Book!

I read this book almost 20 years ago and loved it. I listened to it now and loved it just as much!

Good book

We found this book exciting and funny. I cringed a little at some of the more romantically inclined scenes for my 10 year old son. They weren't terrible, just a couple of phrases more than what I felt fully comfortable with for that age. I love how it gives both sides of the war a face and shows hearts reaching out to individuals. I recommend this book to others. Tom Stechshulte's narration was easy to listen to and get lost in. He brought the characters to life.

Great story! I wished it was longer.

I wished it was longer, the book kind of concluded quickly. The book moves quickly as it spans the entire civil war.

Great coming of age story

My 12 year old loved this book. It was exciting and realistic. I loved it as it gave my son a literary example of a young man transitioning into adulthood with his honor intact.

great historical novel with life lessons

great book with so much history. the main character is like most of us- a passionate teen ready to live, and as he experiences the Civil War, he gains understanding and wisdom of the world and the people around him. highly recommended for 12+

Every Kansan and Civil War buff should read this

This is a story that strikes deep with me and many other farm boys from Kansas. Jeff is a very real and relatable character that has his own flaws and doubt's. It cover's an area of the American Civil War that often gets overshadowed by the war in the Eastern theater. It includes important event's out here such as the Battle of Wilson's Creek and the division in Missouri between pro Union and Confederate factions. If you're a fan of Jeff Shaaras Civil War book's then you will love Rifle's For Watie.

Rifles for Waite review

I have read this at least three times. This book is fantastic, and so is the narrator. I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you.

great book

I've read this book many times over the years. never gets old.i recommend it to all.

Good Story about lesser known part of the Civil War

A fun story that has a good dose of adventure without neglecting or glossing over the worst parts of war. As with anything in the Civil War, the book can only tell part of the story, but overall, it has a good balance of all of it. The focus on the war further West is also great to learn about because it is often ignored in the larger scheme of things. The performance is done very well too making the book even more enjoyable.

Great for family

The narrator did a fantastic job drawing you into the story. This was a great historical fiction that the whole family could enjoy together.