Cleburne: A Graphic Novel
Grade 10 Up—Patrick Cleburne was an Irish immigrant and Confederate soldier who quickly rose to the rank of Major General. He is best known for his 1864 proposal that emancipated slaves should be allowed to join the Confederate Army, an act that marred his military reputation. He died soon after in battle. Cleburne's story is well written as Murphy merges struggles on the battlefield with Cleburne's courtship of Susan Tarleton, exploring their budding relationship and examining the war from her standpoint. The artwork is well defined and realistic, and the use of overlapping images in the skirmishes gives a chaotic feel to the battle scenes. The author brings a fresh perspective to the war, examining a part of it that is often overlooked. This graphic novel has high crossover appeal for any Civil War history buff and will help teens consider the many angles from which our past may be seen.—Kelliann Bogan, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NHCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.