Across Five Aprils

Reach for this book when your child is beginning to notice that life isn't always divided into easy heroes and villains, especially when people they love hold conflicting views. Set during the Civil War, the story follows young Jethro Creighton as he watches his brothers and neighbors choose different sides of a brutal conflict. Through Jethro's eyes, the book explores how to maintain family bonds when loyalty is tested by political and moral divides. It is an emotionally resonant choice for children ages 10 to 14 who are ready for a nuanced look at history, personal integrity, and the weight of growing up in a world undergoing a painful transformation. Parents will appreciate how it humanizes the 'other side' without sacrificing the gravity of the historical stakes.