Newbery Medal Winner
Rifles for Watie
by Harold Keith
Summary
Sixteen year old Jeff Bussey leaves his Kansas farm to join the Union army during the Civil War and ends up spying behind Confederate lines among the Cherokee forces led by General Stand Watie. The novel traces his experiences on both sides of the conflict, showing how he comes to respect enemies he once feared and to question simple ideas about loyalty and honor. Keith drew on years of research and interviews with aging veterans, producing one of the most authentic and detailed Civil War novels written for young readers.
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Historical Context & Significance
Harold Keith based the book partly on interviews he conducted with surviving Confederate veterans during the 1930s, lending the story unusual historical accuracy.