Iron thunder: the battle between the Monitor & the Merrimac: a Civil War Novel the Monitor & the Merrimac: a Civil War Novel . Avi; New York, Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. Grade Level: 6-8 Hardback ISBN and cost: 9781423104469, $15.99 Blanket Permission to Reproduce Book Jackets: Used by permission of the Publisher
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Synopsis:
Tom Carroll must get a job to help support his mother and sister but what kind of job can a thirteen-year-old get that pays enough money? A friend of his mothers offers him a job working at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. When Tom enters the Yard, he has no idea that in two months he would be part of the most amazing adventure during the Civil War.
General Review:
In his first I WITNESS book, Avi has written about a time in our history that many students (and adults) know very little about, the battle between the USS Monitor and the USS Merrimac. Thirteen-year-old Tom Carroll narrates this compelling story about the hardships with his family, trying to escape a rebel spy, helping to build the Monitor and finally the battle between the first two Ironclads, the Union's Monitor and the Confederate's Merrimac. The illustrations by C.B. Mordan (who lives in Kansas) and the photographs and pictures from the Mariners' Museum and Library help to make this a fast-paced and exciting book to read.
Themes: Civil war, historical fiction, armored vessels
Author Information:
- Avi's official web site:
- Illustrator C. B. Mordan web site
http://cbmordan.com/main%20page.html
Discussion Questions: (Standard 3; Benchmark 3)
- The “Copperhead” (a Confederate spy) told Tom to “keep your eyes open” and report back any information about the Ironclad ship. He then gave Tom a gold coin. What did Tom do? Would you have done the same thing?
- At the age of thirteen, Tom was offered a job on the USS Monitor. Would Tom in today's world be offered a job on a ship? Why or why not? If you were Tom, would you have taken the job he was offered?
- Tom was afraid he would have nothing to do during the battle but Captain Worden had a very special assignment for him. What did Tom do during the battle? Could you have done Tom's job?
- On page 169, Tom talks about the differences between the two Ironclads. From the descriptions, which ship should have won the battle? Why?
Activities:
- Research the USS Monitor at http://www.monitorcenter.org/ . When did they find the wreckage of the Monitor under the sea? How much has been recovered? Where is it on display? (Standard 1, Benchmark 1)
- Draw an illustration of your favorite part of the book but use only black ink like illustrator by C. B. Mordan does in the book. (Standard 5, Benchmark 3)
Similar Books for Further Reading:
- Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
- Crispin: At the Edge of the World by Avi
- Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
- Hard Gold: The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859: A Tale of the Old West by Avi
- Fields of Fury: The American Civil War by James McPherson
- The Journal of James Edmond Pease: A Civil War Union Soldier, Virginia, 1863 by Jim Murphy
