This book is mediocre at best. The one thing I really did like about this book is the protagonist, Elizabeth. She would be a very good, rounded, and dynamic character if the author was more skilled at writing. However, her spunk and defiance against the sexist practices during this time period gives the book a very feminist outlook. The plot was a little like a badly written soap drama; there was no real development in the events, and all of them were pretty predictable. Also, the plot was also not very compelling; I was counting down the chapters until I finished the book. Some of the moments in this book were truly touching and well-written, but most of the time the writing was laden with cliché phrases like, I had found a beautiful friendship to treasure (McClure, 101). The historical accuracy isnt bad, but the voice of the novel sometimes slips and sounds modern. If youre looking for a good historical fiction read, dont bother with this one. There are plenty of better written books about the American Civil War.