THE PEACEMAKERS

Amid the Civil War, a Mennonite boy struggles to follow the path of peace in this debut middle-grade historical novel.

Mennonites like 14-year-old Emanuel “Manny” Weaver and his family—farmers and potters—have strong religious principles, including turning the other cheek, acting as peacemakers, and avoiding worldly affairs. Rather than join the militia in their home state of Virginia, the men of the family have been able to pay a fine instead. But when, in 1861, Virginia votes to secede from the Union, the new Confederacy requires all men between 18 and 45 to enlist in the military, allowing no exceptions. Manny’s Uncle Davy is forcibly conscripted but manages to run off in the confusion of battle. Returning home, he asks Manny to help him hide, bring him food, and swear an oath to tell no one, not even the family, where he is. Manny agrees, though taking his promise seriously puts him squarely in a moral dilemma, especially when his father is taken away to serve in Davy’s place. Working harder than he ever has, Manny ponders questions of morality, such as swearing oaths (biblically forbidden), stealing food for Davy, fighting in the war, and supporting slavery. In her novel, Lindsay draws on family history to set the Civil War in a context not usually explored. She does a fine job of presenting several ethical dilemmas. For example, Mennonites don’t do business with slaveholders, but with the men gone, the Weavers must hire enslaved people owned by a neighbor to harvest the crops. Manny’s growth into a man is convincingly portrayed through his backbone, thoughtfulness, and industry. The novel also deftly describes the absorbing details of farming, pottery-making, and community life.

A rich coming-of-age tale that sheds light on an uncommon Civil War perspective.