THE LAST FULL MEASURE

Author (last name first):
Rinaldi, Ann
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

7th and Up

Classification:  Fiction 

In the summer of 1863, fourteen year-old Tacy Stryker is not ready for the changes that are in store for her family and friends. The Confederate army has taken over her town. The battle is not only on the fields of Gettysburg, but in the towns surrounding it. Tacy's father is a doctor and her brothers Brandon and Joel are officers serving under General Grant with the Second Pennsylvania Calvary. Tacy's brother David is unable to fight because of an old injury to his leg and is left to take care of the household and the women of the family. He is so unhappy that he takes out his anger on Tacy. She adores her big brother and cringes every time he raises his voice at her. She is a willful young lady and the only daughter of the doctor and his wife. Tacy struggles with telling who is a friend and who is an enemy during the war and hates herself for blaming her best friend, the daughter of free Negroes, whose family is one of at least 400"darkies" living there, comes to stay with the Strykers. her brother David shows valiant effort in helping after the war, which in turn makes Tacy do so as well. The Stryker family is put in danger many times and most live to tell about it. 
This is a wonderful story that tells about the Stryker's struggles during the war. It would be a good book to read to students who are studying about Gettysburg and the family's involvement. In the back of the book it has a bibliography and an AR test available for students. 

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Night Circulation Manager at Midwestern State University)