They respond by showing goodness to others. The amazing realistic illustration by Mark Hess pull the reader, like the boy, directly into the eyes of Lincoln. At enlistment both his youth and dedicatio are recognized and he's assigned the position of drummer boy. The book holds discussion about the Civil War's cruelty to young boys and men, and how one particular boy, old beyond his years, sees the needs of others, and puts aside his own hurt to help them. The story within the story is well-differentiated by the amazing talents of illustrator Chris Soentpiet whose style varies from black and white interpretations of the past, to the stark palette of the present setting which are occasionally highlighted by rich colors of the family's clothing.
All illustrations carry an intensity of emotion that properly represents the story's feeling levels.
Revealing this shameful bit of history in a way young readers can understand is a difficult enough mission, but Bunting goes beyond this charge. She shows us how Laura's rage at the injustice of the past is soothed by her father's sympathic frame of mind. A thing that cannot be changed. And yet, having put those words in an older character's mouth, Bunting is a realist and knows change comes slowly. She shows us how Laura, still filled with an injustice-driven affinity for her grandfather and people, finds solace for herself by performing a symbolic action to right the wrongs of the past.