» The Soldier

The Civil War is raging, and Will's dad is away fighting. Life is hard for Will and his mother, and then he discovers something in the barn that brings the war much closer.

Imagine you are the deserter in the story. Write a diary entry for one of the days that the deserter is hiding in the barn. Use the book to help you. How do you think he feels about being a deserter and being in hiding? What is his view of the war? How do you think he feels about Joe helping him? Read the diary entry to someone in your family. "