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From School Library Journal

Gr 5-8 According to the estimates of a good deal of historians, as a great deal of as 400 women fought in the Civil War dissembled as men. One such woman was Emma Ed monds, 21 years old and Canadian born. She felt fiercely patriotic towards her adopted country, and was deter mined to fight for the Union. Not only did she serve as a field nurse, tending the wounded at the battle sites, but she likewise served as a Union spy. Reit has applied Emma's own published memoirs (long out of print), exploration from the National Archives, and U. S. Army re cords. It will have to make for an stimulating tale. Unfortunately, the finished prod uct doesn't measure up to it is promise. The style is far too episodic, with little unity amid adventures, and not sufficient fleshing out of events. Some fictionalizing of dialog and thoughts occurs. This is most likely to appeal only to those with a frenzied obsession with the Civil War. Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Copyright 1988 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful.
The story of the brave young lady with the imp voice...
By Priscilla Stafford
Written by Seymour Reit, "Behind Rebel Lines" tells the true story of Emma Edmonds. Running away from her father at the age of sixteen, she had left Canada for the country where freedom and liberty would become a reality. Now the year 1861, Emma is now 21 and the Civil War amid states has begun. When President Lincoln asks for volunteers, Emma is determined not to just sit by. She disguises herself as a man and enlists herself into the Union Army. Now everyone, including her superior officers and fellow soldiers, believe her to be Private Franklin Thompson, assigned to Company F. But Emma wants to do more, so she volunteers to be a Union spy. But while she has been all this time fooling her own army, may she keep her mystery behind rebel lines?

A genuinely well-written story, "Behind Enemy Lines" is sure to please. The author did a lot of exploration to write this book, re-creating Emma Edmond's story through Emma's memoirs, U.S. Army Records, and files from the National Archive. At the front cover of the book it is written "Great Episodes". This is because each chapter is disunited in such a way. In that sense, while reading the story the reader might feel as altho the book does not actually flow as well as you would like. But on the overall, the whole story is written well if not a bit purposed more for younger audiences.

Emma's reputation is captivating and very realistic. Oh, I recognise that she WAS a real character, but in few cases, galore writers can not seem to grasp the reputation of who they're writing about. Fortunately, Seymour Reit puts down Emma's life down on paper flawlessly. You may almost 'hear' the imp voice in Emma's ear!

On the whole, "Behind Rebel Lines" is a gripping and arousing and attention holding historical biography and I may effortlessly commend it. Best for ages 10 - 14 but older teens and some adults might find this a good read.

"This stranger-than-fiction story will captivate history buffs and hold the attention of the most reluctant reader."
-Bank Street College of Education-

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
Girl Power
By Terrie
This is a very quick read even for the 9-12 year age group it is intended for. Never-the-less, it is a very stimulating and interesting bit of true Civil War drama. It is the story of Sarah Emma Edmonds, or Emma Edmonds as she was known, a young woman, born in Canada, who, dissembled as a man, became a solider, battlefield nurse, spy and detective for the Union army. Emma was sworn into the Union army as Private Franklin Thompson and served bravely and cunningly in a heap of dangerous missions and in galore disguises. She was also a committed and skilled battlefield nurse and tended the wounded of both the Union and the Confederacy with compassion. Her career as a male soldier ended at Vicksburg when she became so ill with malaria that she had to go AWOL in order to escape detection as a female. Her adventures did not stop there. This book is sure to grab the interest of any individual who picks it up. It is not a outstanding work of writing skill, being very episodic with little to link together the respective elements of Emma's courageous life. The dialog is fabricated, of course, and rather stilted, but the facts here are exact and taken from Emma's memoirs and other historical documents. At least 400 women dissembled as men fought for the North for the duration of the Civil War, but Emma's tale of espionage is perchance the most thrilling. I highly commend this book to young people as a wondrous introduction to the Civil War. Getting to recognise the people who fought this tragic and bloody war is a fantasti way to comprehend this astonishing chapter of American history. This book is unquestionably a page turner and so all the better for keeping interest high and fostering curiosity and discovery. Don't miss it.

6 of 7 humans found the following review helpful.
Me from TN(I'm not actually underneath 13 shhhhhh)
By A
This is a unfeigned story,written by Seymour Reit, regarding a woman overcoming the odds in a man's place. The unbelievable woman i am talking with regards to is Emma Edmonds. She posed as a male nurse named Franklin Thompson. Edmonds was sent as a spy behind rebel lines.She with great success finished 11 missions!
Behind Rebel Lines genuinely did make me think. This book was excellent! I loved it. I could hardly put it down(but I did haha). I loved reading in regards to the struggle of a real woman who could demonstrate this amount of courage. It is so inspirational. By the way,I know I sound like a fruit but my teacher is making me write this haha. See ya!Have a GREAT day!!Love yas!

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