Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run by Sam Riddleburger, Michael Hemphill

From the Publisher

Stonewall Hinkleman (yup, that's his real name) hates participating in historical reenactments with his Civil War–obsessed parents. And they drag him to one every weekend. He can't play his Game Boy but he has to play his stupid bugle ('cause he's a bugle boy—how lame can you get?) to lead the battle charges. Who wants to pretend to fi ght in some old war anyway?

But one day, Stonewall finds himself transported back in time to the actual Battle of Bull Run—and he's not alone! Mr. Dupree, an ardent Confederate from Stonewall's time, has also traveled back in order to change the outcome of the whole Civil War. Stonewall needs to use all of his knowledge of the battle to stop Dupree and save the course of American history as we know it.

Booklist

This engaging novel offers a fresh approach to Civil War fiction.

Children's Literature

Stonewall Hinkelman (yes, that is his real name) finds himself once again at a Civil War reenactment event. He is not happy about it. His parents are Civil War buffs, but Stonewall does not share their enthusiasm for the war or for their Civil War relative, Cyrus Hinkelman, whose glory consists of being shot in the butt. Just when Stonewall thinks it cannot get any worse, he finds himself transported back into the Civil War and face to face with Cyrus himself. Stonewall realizes that he has not really learned as much as he could have during all those reenactments, and he is left to struggle to figure out what to do when his unit comes under attack. In addition to battling the Yankees, Stonewall must contend with Mr. Dupree, another visitor from the present, who has come back to change the course of history. Can Stonewall figure out a way to stop him and preserve the Union? A great narrative voice that maintains its edge but becomes less sarcastic when the stakes rise. Highly readable and entertaining. Reviewer: Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6

In this well-paced time-travel novel, smart-aleck Stonewall Hinkleman is not having fun. Named for "Stonewall" Jackson, the 12-year-old spends his summers being dragged to Civil War reenactments by his enthusiastic reenactor parents. This weekend, it's the First Battle of Bull Run. However, he forgot his bugle-a key prop for a bugle boy. He finds a replacement when he meets "Tom," a curious vendor who gives him an authentic-looking instrument and warns him to be careful during the battle. On his way back to his parents, he hears another reenactor, "Senator" Dupree, ranting about how history should be different. If the South had won the war, modern America would be better off. His daughter, Ashby, and Stonewall are disgusted with Dupree's racist attitude, but move on. The next day, when Stonewall sounds the "Charge," he and Ashby find themselves at the actual battle. There, he meets his ancestor, Cyrus, and discovers that Dupree has also been transported and is attempting to reverse the outcome of the fighting. Stonewall, Cyrus, and Ashby have to stop him to prevent American history from being changed forever. Stonewall is a likable character whose attitude changes for the better in the story. There is one use of the "N" word. A good choice for historical fiction fans.-Lisa Crandall, Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI

Kirkus Reviews

Instead of playing his beloved Game Boy, wisecracking Stonewall Hinkleman spends his weekends reluctantly playing bugle boy at the Civil War reenactments to which his lame and geeky parents insist on dragging him. If that wasn't bad enough, he's soon hauled into actual battle by none other than the real Stonewall Jackson, who tricks his young namesake into going back in time to the Battle of Bull Run. Stonewall must follow a South-will-rise-again fanatic named Nathan Bedford Dupree and thwart his plans to change the course of the Civil War so that the South wins. Why doesn't Stonewall Jackson side with Dupree? Because he has come to "understand the extraordinary injustice of slavery," of course. When Stonewall Hinkleman meets his Hinkleman ancestor and gets to know some other soldiers, the sharp lines between right and wrong finally blur a little, but never as much as one would expect in a work that dares to take on this morally tangled premise. A fast-paced, on-the-preachy-side time-travel adventure that could, almost despite itself, spark some fascinating discussions. (Fantasy. 10-14)

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