Leigh Ann's Civil War

Leigh Ann's Civil War is just that: the story of Leigh Ann Conners of Roswell, Georgia, spoiled youngest member of a family whose oldest two sons go off to fight for the Confederacy. Leigh Ann is left behind in the care of her older sister; her father is ailing and requires constant care and her mother has run away from her family and sees them only occasionally. Raised mostly by her older brothers, Leigh Ann is impetuous and headstrong; she is also fiercely loyal and ready to do whatever she can for the Cause. When her family's mill comes into the line of Union fire, Leigh Ann herself plants a French flag high atop it in hopes that the mill will be seen as neutral territory. Leigh Ann is at once a typical Southern young lady and a spunky young woman who knows how to stand up for what is right. When her brothers both return from the war, she is relieved that they are home yet knows how much it pains them to be away from the war. As time passes, Leigh Ann matures, learning to speak her mind in less hurtful ways, coming to understand that some things are worth fighting for and others are best left alone. I really enjoyed this book, as I do most of Rinaldi's historical fiction. Leigh Ann is a delightful young lady, and I loved the interaction between she and her brothers. In fact, most of the book was vintage Rinaldi...until I got to the section where Leigh Ann is traveling as a boy with the Union forces. The magical realism that infuses the story at that point was a little out of character for the rest of the novel and pulled me right out of the story. Other than that, I can say I really liked this novel and would recommend it to historical fiction lovers.