Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel
Grade 5–9—This comic-style adaptation of a pivotal moment in U.S. history does a capable job of capturing the people, place, and portent of Civil War-era Gettysburg. The book begins with three edifying spreads: a map of the area, a cast of characters, and a prologue. Butzer then proceeds to the battle, its aftermath, and Lincoln's famous address. Some bold images—a slow rain of cannonballs, a solitary corpse on the battlefield—enliven the gray-toned art. The author/illustrator also made the interesting choice to position portions of the text over images of a chronological progression of civil rights issues, beginning with slavery and including the fight for the rights of women, Native Americans, gays, and more. The story, itself rather brief, is supported by substantial end materials. Extensive author's notes detail the many sources used for research, and the text of the Gettysburg Address is included. It's unfortunate that this useful information wasn't integrated into the main body of the book; it's a lost opportunity to take advantage of the graphic medium. Otherwise, this work serves as a solid introduction to this historically significant event.—Douglas P. Davey, Halton Hills Public Library, Ontario, CanadaCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.