Although this is in a picture book format, and the brief, poetic text mimics a picture book biography, it's neither a picture book aimed at young children nor a biography. Cyr's earth-hued pictures imbue the pages with a somber mood as Clara Barton, in her own words, tells readers of her journey to the devastating battlefield at Antietam.
Barton's own words, taken from her letters and memories, are mixed with the author's sparse prose as the horrors of the aftermath of war are shown through Clara's eyes and her courageous efforts to alleviate suffering bring her into contact with death, disease, and often despair. Although Cyr's art smooths over the gory horrors of the surgical tents and dying men, there is no mistaking the brutal aftermath of war, from crude surgery to lack of supplies and constant filth and gore. Lighter moments are illustrated with shafts of sunlight; when Clara Barton finds chests of supplies packed with cornmeal, and she herself is always accompanied with light into the darkest places, as she brings hope to all those she encounters.
Careful research concludes the story with a detailed explanation of Clara Barton's life, especially after the immediate events of the Battle of Antietam and the Civil War, including her friendship with Frederick Douglass and her support of suffrage and work as a humanitarian. Included is a list of bibliographical resources and sites to visit.
Verdict: This is a realistic but not over dramatized or gory introduction to the realities of war for middle grade readers. It would also be an excellent addition to a study of pivotal women in history and helps build a nuanced picture of the Civil War. A must have for most public libraries and school libraries, I strongly recommend it for teachers to include in discussions of and introductions to this time period in US history.
ISBN: 9781635923223; Published March 2022 by Calkins Creek/Astra; Borrowed from another library in my consortium
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