Product guide

The Boys' War: Confederate and Union Soldiers Talk About the Civil War

Soldiers Talk About: The Boys' War is a nonfiction account of boys who served in the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. It draws on firsthand material such as diaries, letters and memoirs, and includes historical photographs.

At a glance

Uses first-person accounts from young people who served as soldiers, drummers, buglers and telegraphers.
Covers military service, camp and field life, returning home and the effects of wartime experiences.
The supplied description says the book includes more than 45 contemporary sepia-toned photographs.
Listed for grades 5–6, with customer-suggested reading ages of 10–13.

Price

$1.99Save 83%

Reference price: ~~$11.99~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

View offer

Pros and cons

Pros

Primary-source voices give readers access to young participants' wartime perspectives.
Photographs complement the historical narrative and can help readers picture its setting.
A short 130-page length may suit a focused school or independent history assignment.

Technical specifications

14 specifications

Edition details
Publisher	Clarion Books
Publication date	January 31, 2017
Edition	Reissue
Language	English
Print length	130 pages
ISBN-13	978-0547531564

Kindle details
File size	51.5 MB
Screen reader	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	Enabled
X-Ray	Not Enabled
Word Wise	Enabled
Page Flip	Enabled

Suggested reader range
Grade level	5 - 6
Reading age	10 - 13 years, from customers

What to know before buying

The listing describes the included photographs as more than 45 contemporary sepia-toned images. The exact image count and format in this Kindle edition are not separately specified. The stated reading age is attributed to customers, not a formal age rating.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Middle-grade readers studying the Civil War or the experiences of young people in wartime.
Readers who prefer nonfiction built around firsthand accounts and historical photographs.
Teachers or families seeking a concise supplementary Civil War history.

Less suited to

Readers looking primarily for a fictional Civil War story or a comprehensive military history.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.7 / 5 · 227 ratings

5 stars78%78%
4 stars17%17%
3 stars3%3%
2 stars1%1%
1 star1%1%

Customer feedback describes the book as informative and well researched, with firsthand accounts, historical detail and photographs that help readers visualize the text. These reports make it a promising supplementary read for middle-school Civil War study, though the listing does not establish that every reader will find its treatment or format suitable.

Positive themes

Customers praise the research and firsthand accounts.
Customers appreciate the photographs and their role in visualizing the text.
Customer feedback highlights its usefulness for middle-school readers.

Frequently asked questions

What does The Boys' War cover?

It describes boys sixteen and younger who served with Union and Confederate forces, including their military roles, camp life, return home and wartime experiences.

Does the book include photographs?

The supplied description says it includes more than 45 contemporary sepia-toned photographs. It does not separately confirm how those images appear in this Kindle edition.

What age or grade range is listed?

The listing gives grade level 5–6. Its reading-age field says 10–13 years and attributes that age range to customers.

What Kindle reading features are listed?

Screen Reader, Enhanced Typesetting, Word Wise and Page Flip are listed as supported or enabled. X-Ray is listed as not enabled.