Interesting tale from the point of view of a boy who served on the iron-clad Monitor during the Civil War.

The book opens with the boy seeking work after his father is killed in the war. He gets a job as a laborer in the building of the Monitor. As the Monitor nears her maiden voyage - and also her maiden battle, the boy is included on the crew and plays a crucial role in the Monitor's victory over the Merrimac.

Nice history lesson along with an interesting story. ( )

I picked this one up because I have a whole slew of third grade boys who want to read about battles, including a few who are excellent readers. If we’re not careful, they’ll end up finding and reading accounts that they’re not emotionally ready for.

Considering how much of the book is spent watching the ship get built, it’s surprisingly exciting. I found myself really thinking about the extraordinary idea that we can get enormous amounts of iron to float. [author: Avi] does a great job of capturing the cultural moment of innovation and the response to an idea that will change everything. I also really liked the bits of historical information and diagrams throughout the book. They were good reminders that what I was reading had really happened without pulling me out of the story, and the afterward did a nice job of distilling the fiction from the fact.

This is the first in Hyperion’s “I Witness” series, which seems like it will be worth keeping an eye on. ( )

Avi presents a common historical writing time with a different emphasis. The development of the Iron ship to save the Union during the Civil War is central to the book written from a young boy's perspective.

Gave perspective of the danger, the threat, the need---all compelling my boys to want to read more.
The boy's perspective gave education without dumping information. Answered questions without feeling like a student. Inspired knowledge hidden in the adventure.

My boys enjoyed the adventure. I enjoyed the different perspective on the Civil War---the war at Sea. ( )

Summary: This book is about a 13 year old boy who's father was killed during the war so he went to work to provide for his family. He ends up working with someone who is the inventor of the first battle ship for the US Navy.The man was unable to convince anyone to sign up to fight in the war on the 1st battle ship but young 13 year old Thomas was able to convince men to sign up and serve their country.

Personal reaction: I can personally relate to this book just because my husband signed up to serve his county and I know that it is a great sacrifice. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it would be to be the leader of the house at 13. This man in this book was strong and determined just as my husband is.

Class room extensions: I would have the students dress up as different characters in the book and have seens for them to reinact.
I would also have them write in their journal how they think their lives would be different if they had to be the sole provider for their family at this age of 13

A story of a fatherless boy during the Civil War who lives in near the shipyards in New York. Thirteen year old Thomas takes a job in the shipyard to help support his family. He lands up working with Captain Erickson the inventor of the Monnitor the US Navy's first iron battleship. unable to encourage any sailors to sign up to serve on the ship its is young Thomas who convices the men to give it a try. Thomas evades thugs who try to pry design secrets out of him about the Union Ironclad ship unsuccessfully. To keep him safe he stays on board the ship until it is finished. Then ship goes onto battle against the Confederate ship the Merrimack at the battleof the Hampton Roads in North Carolina. This story has adventure, intrigue, and takes the reader on an ocean going battle tour of the Civil War . A great read for middle school.