Official Review: The Civil War Soldiers' Orphan Schools o...

[Shelle]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Civil War Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864 - 1889" by Dr. O. David Gold, Martha Gold.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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War is so much more than just the fighting. It's more than the noblest causes it's defending, and more than the bloodshed left on battlefields. Often, once a war is over and the rebuilding begins, it's the children who become the real casualties. In The Civil War Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864-1889 we learn from the author, Dr. O. David Gold (with assistance from daughter Martha Gold), about the orphanages set up by the state of Pennsylvania to care for children that may otherwise have ended up homeless and destitute. We also learn how corruption and greed can muddy even the purest intentions. I rated this book 4 out of 4 stars.

The Soldiers’ Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864-1889 is organized into chapters that clearly outline the need for the orphan schools, the legislation enacted to secure the funding, the organization and curriculum of the schools, the scandals that eventually led to the schools closures, and the politics involved in the running (and closing) of the schools. This book is packed with old photographs from the orphan schools, newspaper clippings, and relevant political cartoons. I really appreciated all these extras, as they helped me better understand the time and place. The end notes and bibliography were also very helpful and easily provided references and resources for readers seeking more information. Clearly the authors spent countless hours doing their research and their care to remain authentic is noticed on every page.

Overall, I thought The Soldiers’ Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania was very well done. The sheer amount of research done and material presented was impressive. The organization of the chapters was easy to follow and easy to reference back to if needed. Some of the individual stories of Civil War orphans and widows were heartbreaking, as were the stories of abuse and neglect some of the orphans faced.

I enjoyed most of this book immensely, with few exceptions. The chapter dealing with the politics involved in the orphan schools was very confusing to me and difficult to fully understand. I had a hard time keeping all the elected officials, political appointees, and special interest groups sorted out and separated, although that’s certainly true for me with modern-day politics as well. Although I was confused during this chapter, the fact that there was no one “correct and true” political party or politician involved, and that they all were looking for some type of self-gain, was made very evident. Readers who love the ins and outs of politics may find this chapter to be their favorite part of the book. There were some minor inconsistencies with abbreviations and a few punctuation errors, but these could be cleaned up easily and didn’t detract from the overall quality of the book.

I would recommend The Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864-1889 to anyone who enjoys American history, Civil War history, or the plight of fatherless children. I could easily see it being thoroughly used as reference material for a high school or college history project or perhaps even serving as a required textbook for a course on post-Civil War America.

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The Civil War Soldiers' Orphan Schools of Pennsylvania 1864 - 1889
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Like Shelle's review? Post a comment saying so!

[vigabo]

I have great admiration for authors who spend hours researching a subject for a book. It's a skill requiring patience I don't have. Given your review, this book sounds like an excellent resource for those studying this subject. Well done.

[Shelle]

I have great admiration for authors who spend hours researching a subject for a book. It's a skill requiring patience I don't have. Given your review, this book sounds like an excellent resource for those studying this subject. Well done.

I absolutely agree. The sheer amount of research that went into this book is astounding!

[bookowlie]

Great review. I also have so much respect for the amount of reserach that goes into writing these types of books. Glad you enjoyed the book!

[MsMartha]

I appreciate the review, and I've added this book to my "To Read" shelf. Thanks, Shelle!

[johnjwff]

Thank you so much for the post you do. I like your post and all you share with us is up to date and quite informative, i would like to bookmark the page so i can come here again to read you, as you have done a wonderful job.

[LivreAmour217]

I love history, and this sounds like an amazing book! You did a wonderful job on the review, and I am looking forward to reading one!

[Shelle]

I love history, and this sounds like an amazing book! You did a wonderful job on the review, and I am looking forward to reading one!

Thanks so much! It's certainly a good one and I hope you like it too!

[Heidi M Simone]

Wonderful review, Shelle! One of my favorite lines in your review is this: "Often, once a war is over and the rebuilding begins, it's the children who become the real casualties." Reading this sentence sent a little ping to my heart because it's the truth. The children suffer the most during and after war times. I love that the author has written a book that seems to have portrayed this message very well.

Congratulations to the author for receiving such a great review and writing such a captivating book!