Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite

Young Hannah Wallace loved adventure more than anything. When her older brother Seth decides to join the forces fighting in the Civil War, Hannah is beside herself with envy that he would be leaving the family to participate in the most exciting event of his life. But when her father decided that he would not allow his son to join the army without him, the reality of the ravages of war forced her to assume a greater role in maintaining her family’s farm. As she struggles to assist with the finances of the endangered family home, provide comfort for her mother, and begrudgingly assume a role far more mature than her early teen years, Hannah comes to terms with what is truly important. Playing war games with her friend Wes soon takes a back seat to saving the farm and being the daughter Hannah believes her father expects. She may not be the son she so firmly believes he wants her to be, but she grows into a daughter worthy of parental respect.

Michelle Isenhoff has created a vibrant tale of colorful American history. Her characters are rich in their relevance to what young people endured in our nation’s earliest memories. I find this story exciting and enticing for young readers. Blood of Pioneers: Divided Decade Collection is the perfect addition to any library. Isenhoff provides not only an entertaining story, but one that can easily be converted into the history curriculum, with its many sub-themes for research. This is one of the sweetest stories I have ever read.