Red Moon at Sharpsburg

Written by Rosemary Wells

Narrated by Julia Gibson

Rosemary Wells' books have garnered ALA and School Library Journal Best Book and Christopher Award honors. Praised by starred reviews, this carefully researched novel delivers an unforgettable story of determination and self-sacrifice in the face of incredible loss. As the Civil War swirls closer to her home in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, 13-year-old India Moody is tutored by a young scholar who sparks her interest in biology, chemistry, and college. But when India's father goes missing, she searches for him on the ghastly Antietam battlefield in Sharpsburg, Maryland. "A grand historical novel of exceptional scale and depth."-Kirkus Reviews,starred review

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 3, 2008
• ISBN: 9781436117166

Rosemary Wells

Rosemary Wells's career as an author and illustrator spans more than thirty years and 120 books, including Hand in Hand and Kit and Kaboodle. She has won numerous awards and has given readers such unforgettable characters as Max and Ruby, Noisy Nora, and Yoko. She lives in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Reviews for Red Moon at Sharpsburg

[kslade-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great story of young girl who lived in the Shenandoah valley and saw the aftermath of the horrible battle at Antietam or Sharpsburg. She had ambitions beyond the normal girls of the time. Very worthwhile read.

[martha_thayer-45494 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An excellent historical fiction read. Shelved in the YA section in our library, but adults will enjoy.

[emilyfrancis2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is about a young high spirited girl with lot's of courage. The book is written by Rosemary Wells and is Historical Fiction. I will prove that the main character, India is very brave. This book was inspiring because of all the brave people during the awful and depressing Civil War. The setting of this story is taken place in Virginia in the 1860's. So India and her family are on the southern side. The point of view is from the main character, India. Other important characters in this book are Cy Moody; India's father, India's mother, Emory Trimble; her tutor, Dr Hooks, Geneva, and Captain Davis. I would say the tone/ mood of this story is sad, depressing, dreary, but also very touching. A brief summary of this book is that its about a girl named India who is more interested in Science, chemistry and playing outside with the boys than becoming a young lady. Her father, a medic in the war, gets very sick of camp fever so she sneaks off to take medicine but it all just goes down hill from there. Some important events in this story are at the beginning when school gets canceled because her teacher passes away so her parents insist she is tutored by a young man named Emory Trimble. Another important event is is when Emory asks India to come to the University with him and be his assistant. The last major important event was when India's father gets very sick and dies. Those were the 3 parts I thought were most important.I would definitely say the author achieved her purpose, the book was powerful and beautiful. A strength in this book would be that there was very strong character personality's. A weakness would be that there were too many characters that it was hard to follow and I got confused sometimes and had to backtrack. My overall response to this book was that it was interesting and gave me a better perspective on the war. I would definitely recommend this book to others because it feels like your reading a real autobiography of someone who had a real life experience in the war. I would rate in 7 stars out out of 10. Overall, I think this book was a great story about the war. I really learned more about the Civil War. The book left me with a lot of knowledge about how hard times were. I would recommend this book to students in middle/ high school and anyone interested in history or the Civil War.

[asialym16 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

AsialyMELA Book Review Red Moon at Sharpsburg Written By; Rosemary Wells Deaths, injuries, hardships, bravery, and a romance. The mid 1800’s were the bloodiest days of war. Rosemary Well’s Red Moon at Sharpsburg is about the civil war. There were many sicknesses in the cold air during war and many people have died, including loved ones. Red Moon at Sharpsburg is a very interesting book. It tells an extraordinary story about a girl who’s pa has left for war and soon becomes missing. This book also tells a story about a bit of a romance. The book Red Moon at Sharpsburg is a great book because it has a good meaning and it gives you outside information about the civil war. India Moody is the main character and narrator of this book. Other important characters include Pa, Mama, Emory, Calvin and Geneva Trimble, Julia, General E. Lee, Patrick, Henry, Doctor Hooks and more. The setting is located in Virginia at Sharpsburg. It is also where the civil war passed briefly. Red Moon at Sharpsburg is historical fiction. Red Moon at Sharpsburg is about a girl named India Moody who supports the South nation. India’s Pa is forced to go to war to help the wounded soldiers. The war passes by Sharpsburg and is affecting her area. India’s Pa eventually goes missing and is soon dead by the hospital field. While India doesn’t know this quite yet, she goes into the war to try and find her Pa and give him the medicine he needs to get rid of his sickness, but does not find him. Red Moon at Sharpsburg is definitely a cliffhanger. Once you start, it’s hard to find a place to stop because it’s just full of suspense, action, and romance. I would recommend this book to others because it was a very interesting, and effective book. When I read this book, I pictured everything perfectly in my head. I understood the meaning because the book was written easily to understand. The author, Rosemary Wells, did an exceptional job writing this book. The writing has a nice flow to it and it has a great meaning. I would definitely recommend this book to people who are interested in the civil war. I really enjoyed reading Red Moon at Sharpsburg.

[booklover143-927163 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Red moon at Sharpsburg is about war. It is a historical fiction book written by Rosemary wells. The book Red moon at Sharpsburg was good because it was romantic but also about the difficulties of war. A girl named India just wants to play with boys and have fun but her mother wants her to study housing. Until she meets a young scientist named Emory Trimble he studies medicine, chemistry and biology. Her dad goes off to war and gets camp fever. India finds herself in a situation in the race between time and death for her father. Red moon at Sharpsburg takes place in Virginia Shenandoah valley. When war breaks out school closes down and India is forced to stay at home and work for her family with her friend Julia. India the main character is brave, and caring. Her father (“pa”) is religious, caring and brave by going into the war and risking his life. Her mother is weird, crazy and controlling she is also mean because she doesn’t let India do much. Julia is rich and she moves so she can go to college leaving her friend behind during the time India needs her most.India needs to give her father medicine to fight camp fever but she can’t do it by herself. She gets help from Emory who gives her pills for camp fever but she needs to hand deliver it herself so the yanks (enemy) doesn’t ruin them. So she goes to Sharpsburg were her dad is at war. She finds a dead soldiers wallet at takes out all of the money so she can afford college. Where then she discovers her father is not there and that he is dead. They say the moon was red at sharps burg because of her dad’s blood and the rest of the soldiers. When she gets back she faces the fear of telling her mother of her father’s death. She then moves away from the war to then yet again find out another love one has died. The Red moon at Sharpsburg was a good book. The writing was powerful and effective. The book could have had more information on the war but overall it was educational and romantic. This book was dull at first but moving more towards the end. I recommend this book to 12 year olds and up. In my opinion it was good. This book was hard to put down after you got towards the end. It was romantic, historical and very realistic. If you like a little violence and some romance this would be a good book for you. The book was good I just wanted few more chapters to really finish it off. But it was a pretty good book.

[mr.cuddles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Red Moon at SharpsburgBy, Rosemary Wells Guns blood and a river that turned red that’s exactly what happened in Sharpsburg. I really enjoyed reading this book because it was a very adventures book and had a lot of cliffhangers which I love to read. About how an author can show that girls can do something for family friends and strangers. Red Moon at Sharpsburg was a very interesting book it talked about how girls can help in the civil but they don’t get credit. This book talks about girls starting to change in the world getting rights and becoming different people it shows how they can be their own people. India the main character shows great courage to get the right medicine so she can go out and save her dad from the war. This story is told from a girl named India about how she tries to save her dad from the war and gets the medicine that he needs urgently. Don’t just think that this book is about the war they talk about how India helps out and does her part. I would suggest this book for readers that like people that help out and are the war hero’s that no one talks about this book shows great leadership and great courage from a girl point of view in the war. Red Moon at Sharpsburg was a beautiful book that shows love. Determination, action and a little bit of violence. In the book it can tell you what conditions they were in the book there Pa says “Don’t touch me I’m as dirty as a dead mule this showed me what they would look like after a big battle has happened. India’s Friend gives her the right medicine to help her dad and she says to herself “ I will find my Pa if it’s the last thing I do”. As she runs from Place to place looking for her dad she gets told a interesting saying “sleep little then run like hell out of her when daylight comes” you might wonder what that means but what they are saying is the Union will be there by morning and she could get captured or worse get killed. This book was an inspirational to me because it showed me that you can go out of your way to help someone out in your family or friends even just random citizens that you never met. This book showed me great courage and determination it showed me it doesn’t matter how old you or what sex you are we can all do something to make a change.

[cheer114 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you like suspenseful books where you are left with cliff hangers and having to be on the edge of your seat, this is the book for you. Red Moon at Sharpsburg is by Rosemary Wells and is Historical fiction. The book was excellent because of the suspense, the journeys in the book, and the somewhat of a love story. This book describes the south side of the civil war. Although, India Moody and her family think that the way of the north is the correct way to deal with this, she and her family need to go with the south because they live in northern Virginia. India Moody is the main character, and is also the narrator. This book was suspenseful, and was a test in love. India Moody is a young girl who doesn’t like to learn the ordinary scriptures and handwriting skills other girls are expected to learn. Instead, India wants to learn about biology and science. India soon used the science and the biology as an advantage when her father went to war. Unfortunately, India’s father got sick. India needed to go to the battlefield and give her the medicine before it’s too late. Red Moon at Sharpsburg was an excellent book. It was a suspenseful but yet somewhat of a love story. The book had some words that would be hard for a 13 year old to understand, but I did understand what was going on. The author also did a very good job with having cliff hangers in between chapters. I found the book for interesting and I found myself asking what was going to happen next. I would recommend this book to people who like suspense of a journey or people who like to sit on the edge of their chair wondering what was going to happen. I would give this book 10 stars out of 10. I absolutely love this book. I never wanted to put it down. I learned something’s I didn't know before. It showed me how the war life really was like for a family. This book has taught me so much and I really enjoyed it.

[dairak-115891 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

When I learned about the civil war I always thought that the south was the bad people and the north were good. Red Moon at Sharpsburg tells the story of a little girl from the south point of view. Red Moon at Sharpsburg is written by Rosemary Wells. It is historical fiction. The book Red Moon at Sharpsburg was boring, terrible, and the plot was static because there was absolutely NO action and the romance it had was terrible. The setting of Red Moon at Sharpsburg is in Virginia and Longmarsh hall. The point of view of Red Moon at Sharpsburg is of a little girl named India. India is on the confederate side. Some other characters are Emory who is India’s neighbor and lover. More characters are her dad, mom, brother, and grandpa. The mood of the book is sad, romantic, and exciting. Red Moon at Sharpsburg is about the civil war and how the troubles of it affect a girl named India. India’s father goes into the war and not long after he goes in he gets sick with Camp fever. While her father is gone in the war she gets tutored by her neighbor Emory Trimble. A big romance develops between India and Emory. Then India finds out that her father is sick and Emory gives her pills to help her father. Red Moon at Sharpsburg is about her troubles trying to find her father. Red Moon at Sharpsburg is definitely not my favorite book but it’s ok. It definitely doesn’t have any action. I would recommend it to people who love romance and cliff hangers. Red Moon at Sharpsburg doesn’t meet my expectations but overall it was ok.

[hennabird · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Book ReviewRed Moon At SharpsburgImagine you’re in a little town in the south and it’s the civil war fighting in your backyard. The title of this book is Red Moon At Sharpsburg author is Rosemary Wells, non-fiction book. This book will be very fun to read. Red Moon At Sharpsburg was excellent because it was in the civil war, sad, adventure sometimes and a lot of other reasons to.India is the main character in this book. She goes through decisions and challenges to. The author of the book (Rosemary Wells) had a topic of civil war and a girl that is trying to find her dad that went out to fight for the south. This book takes place in the 1800’s.In the book Red Moon At Sharpsburg is a civil war book that the main character is India, her dad goes out to the war for the south he was forced to go by a gen. and India wants to find out where he went and if he died.

[bridgetrwilson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

a well researched historical novel. At times a bit predictable, but on the whole, a good read

[amelia1999-311233 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Would you ever be able to live without your father, thinking you might lose him in war? Red Moon at Sharpsburg Rosemary Wells published by Penguin Group, in 2007, has 236 pages is historical fiction. Red Moon at Sharpsburg was okay, because I can see the book play out in my head. This book is very visual. So when there was surgery I didn’t really enjoy it and I was never comfortable with surgery. This book takes place in a town called Sharpsburg. In this book there is a girl who is 12 years old by the name of India Moody. India’s father has to go into war when war breaks out in the year 1861. India’s school closes and she gets tutoring from a young boy named Emory Trimble. He teaches India chemistry, and biology. If India were in school she would have to learn the scriptures and handwriting e very young lady would learn. When war breaks out India must help her mother with healing injured soldiers from the war. When the powerful Union Army advances toward Northern Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, India’s family thinks that they might get caught in the crossfire of the war. When India’s father returns she must have courage. She has no idea that she would have to go into the war’s most terrifying and sad events, The Battle of Sharpsburg. India struggles for survival she learns about love and tragic losses in the war, and comes face to face with despair. In this book there is war and many losses but India and her family are able to pull through and help the injured so we can win the war. This book is very visual like I said at the beginning and I was never comfortable with that kind of stuff. I think this book would appeal most to parents and teenagers in high school. I think this because they would be able to understand it better then kids my age would.

[hcook-543514 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Which war caused the catastrophic breakup of our nation and created more fatalities than any other war in American history? The Civil War, of course! The North side, or the Union, and the South side, or the Confederates, had monumental differences, which triggered the start of war. My book, Red Moon at Sharpsburg, tells about a young girl who encounters devastating loss and unexpected first love during this murderous time in history. Even though this book is fiction, it was described like it was a firsthand portal into the Civil War.This book takes place in Maryland, from the Confederate point of view. This story is told by India Moody, a 12-year-old girl whose father goes off to fight against the Union. Other main characters in this book are Emory Trimble, a young boy who tutors India; Cyrus Moody, India’s father; and the Trimble family, who take India in when the war gets harsh. This book is not for the faint of heart. It is very violent and very sad, yet it is still very good. India and her father, Cyrus Moody, have a very close bond. They are Quakers, so their family doesn’t believe in violence. India is heartbroken when her father registers for the army. India’s mother tells Emory Trimble, a friend, to tutor India in religion, but he teaches her chemistry and botany instead. When India discovers that her father has caught fever, she finds the courage to find her father and bring him medicine during one of the most violent battles of the Civil War, the Battle of Sharpsburg. Cyrus dies anyway, so she heads back home, only to find that Emory has been kidnapped. India moves homes a lot, since her mother can no longer take care of her. This book has a happy ending, however, when India finds Emory in a field hospital as a doctor. She and Emory run away together, and India sells a ring to get to college.This book left me with the impression that the Civil War was a tragic war and it left hundreds of people with torn lives. It would be good for girls, because it is a love story, and good for people who love very sad and violent books. This is a very touching and awe-inspiring story and I highly recommend it. After reading this book, I want people to take away that even in the bleakest of times, it is still possible to find happiness.

[mrector-756847 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Red Moon at SharpsburgImagine living in a world full of hate and pain, this is what happened to India Moody. A wonderful book about civil war is Red Moon at Sharpsburg by Rosemary Wells. The book is historical fiction and it shares a lot of important events that show you how life was in 1861-1865. The book also tells how many solders and families had to face many hardships.In 1861, war broke out between the North and the South. A 12 year old girl named India Moody faces many obstacles. India is a rebel girl because she lives in Virginia, but she lives with her mother, father, little brother, Eddy, and her grandpa Moody. The war takes place in Sharpsburg and in one day, thousands and thousands of people lost their lives.India Moody is different from most girls; she is a rebellious, adventurous, and her dream is to go to a college in Oberlin, Ohio. India’s mother disagrees with her and just wants her daughter to learn the scriptures and be a proper young lady. When India’s dad goes off to fight in the war, India has to get tutored by her neighbor Emory Trimble. Emory is suppose to teach India handwriting, and to memorize her scriptures but she has no intention of learning that. Emory then begins giving India work on chemistry and biology. As the war continues India, goes through love, and lose, and gains responsibility.I recommend Red Moon at Sharpsburg to teens and adults who like history with a good plot. After reading the book, it makes you realize how great people have it today and what our ancestors had to face. Overall this is a fantastic book. The storyline keeps you hooked and makes you want to keep reading!

[emanimerox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Have you ever lost someone in the war? In the book Red Moon at Sharpsburg by Rosemary Wells, Published by Penguin Group, with 236 pages and was copyrighted in 2007, Rosemary Wells, Publishes by Penguin Group, with 236 pages and was copyrighted in 2007. This book is Historical Fiction. The book Red Moon at Sharpsburg was excellent because the story line is easy to follow, there are great characters, and lots of emotion.This book takes place in the beginning of the Civil War in 1861, in Virginia. India Moody is the protagonist of this book. The whole book is told in her point of view from start to finish. Some other characters are Pa, Emory, Mama, and more. These characters take a huge toll on India’s life. The moos changes throughout the book and so does the tone. This makes it so she has different emotions at different times, which is very good in a book.The book starts out in the start of the war. India Moody is a young girl who isn’t like normal girls. She wants to go to Oberlin College in Ohio. She wants to take courses on chemistry and biology, but her school is closed and she is forced to be tutored by Emory Trimble. While she is being tutored she learns about biology and chemistry. Her father is sent into the war to tend to saddles and horses because that was his job prior to the war. Her Pa helped a boy named Calvin Trimble, who was between life and death. Then the Trimble orchard was burned down. The climax is the dramatic scene that happens to Pa. This changes mood and tone of the book. The resolution turns out to be quite a cliff hanger. I believe the author of this book, Rosemary Wells, did achieve her purpose, To entertain with a war time girl’s life story. I found this book very interesting because of the new things I have learned throughout the book. There are so many details and explanations about what it was like to live during the war. I agree with the authors arguments because that is how I would imagine a war time girl to feel and to think. I would give this book 9 out of ten stars just because of that cliff hanger! That is still a very good rating for this book.Red Moon at Sharpsburg was excellent because the amazing story line. This book left me hanging and wanting there to be a sequel. I recommend this book to pretty much everybody. This book is very good and I recommend it. People of all ages will enjoy this thrilling story of a not so ordinary girl.

[ehutcherson-781224 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Book Review: Red Moon at SharpsburgBOOM! The characters in the book were constantly hearing the exploding of shells, and the shooting of guns. In the book Red Moon at Sharpsburg, a fiction book by: Rosemary Wells, India Moody and her family lived near many battles in the civil war, which her father was participating in. It was an emotional and suspenseful book because many families lost their loved ones, including India.Red Moon at Sharpsburg was set in Berryville, Virginia. India Moody, Cy Moody, and the rest of the Moody family are the main characters. However other characters play important roles as well, such as, Emory Trimble, and the speckle sisters. India Moody is the narrator of the book, and during some parts she got very descriptive, like when she was forced to amputate body parts off of hurt soldiers. She always seemed very determined, especially when it came to her family which was good because having her dad in the war, it was very hard on her mom to support the whole family. She even tried to bring her dad pills while he was in the war, so he could get better from his sickness he was dealing with. Her dad at war wasn’t the only one that needed help; her family at home needed it as well, because while her father was away her mom went into this weird state where she wouldn’t do much of anything. So India knew what she had to do and took matters into her own hands. Talk about determination!At the beginning of the book, it started a little slow for my liking, but when I hit the middle, sometimes I couldn’t put it down. India’s family never had much money and things didn’t get any better when her father went to war. She ended up wanting to go to college for science, which wasn’t normal for a girl at that time. When her father was killed she didn’t tell her mom because she would’ve been even more of a wreck than she already was. During the war hurt soldiers were brought to her house so her mom could work on them, and India ended up doing some pretty nasty things. Over all the Moody family went through some very tragic and sad moments, throughout this book. I really enjoyed reading this book. Like I said before, the beginning was slow but I ended up loving it. I would recommend this to teens or adults that like an emotional book where you can barely put it down. It was also very easy reading which makes it even greater. Rosemary Wells did an amazing job writing this book.

[spyro657 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The red moon at Sharpsburg was a pretty good book it is about a family living though the civil war. The protagonist India moody was about 11 years old when this happened. India is a brave daring girl who will do anything to save her dad from getting ill. India soon gets into a friendly state with a Yankee soldier so India is actually siding with the rebels she could get punished. This book has everything from severing limbs to Healing a soldier its all combined into a well written book. Then why isn't it 5 stars? i have to say this book has got some flaws. It can sometimes be gross and unfitting at times. Also its a little crazy alot is happening at a time in this book i couldn't really keep up with it! My Favorite part of this book is how willing she is to save her dad from a deadly sickness its just insane!My final words are this book is great if you are looking for a book and you need something to read pick up a copy of this book!

[millme_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Best Civil War fiction for middle school. Excellent audio as well.

[abbylibrarian_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a sprawling novel, continuing through much of the Civil War in just about 250 pages. I thought parts of it felt a little disjointed and I wished that I could have seen India's character grow and change a bit more gradually. But there's no denying Ms. Wells's beautiful turn of phrase.