The Further Adventures Of Ociee Nash

By Milam McGraw Propst

In the tradition of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Anne of Green Gables, Pollyanna and Laura Ingalls, the Ociee Nash series is filled with the sweet, funny, poignant and mischievous adventures of ten-year-old Ociee Nash, a likable tomboy who turns her grief over her mother's death into a talent for recognizing lonely people who need a friend. Travel with Ociee as she, Papa, and brother Ben move to the bright lights of Memphis, Tennessee, where a "witch woman" captures Ociee's tender heart. In THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF OCIEE NASH, eleven-year-old Ociee's life is never plain, quiet or simple. After all, it's the fancy modern world of 1901, big brother Fred is now a married man, and brother Ben just coaxed her to jump off a moving train. Plus, as she's planning to go back to North Carolina for another visit with fun Aunt Mamie, Papa Nash announces that their family is leaving little Abbeville, Mississippi, for the bright city lights of Memphis, Tennessee. Atlanta author Milam McGraw Propst was awarded Georgia Author of the Year and a national Parent's Choice Award for the first book in the Ociee Nash series, 'A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street, which then became an acclaimed film in 2003 as THE ADVENTURES OF OCIEE NASH, starring Skyler Day, Keith Carradine, and Mare Winningham. Milam's stories are inspired by the history of her own grandmother, Ociee Nash Whitman.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BelleBooks
• Release date: Sep 15, 2009
• ISBN: 9781935661467

Book preview

Propst

Chapter 1

The year 1900

Abbeville, Mississippi

Jump, Ociee! JUMP!

Jump? I couldn’t budge. Bare feet frozen to the flatcar floor, my legs were as unbending as the trunk of our dead pecan tree. My heart pounded in perfect rhythm with the locomotive’s thunderous rumble. With every breath, we roared faster and faster down the railroad tracks.

The empty flatcar should have been carrying pine logs, not me, an eleven year old Mississippi girl.

Help me, Mama! I clutched her locket.

The flatcar hadn’t seemed high seconds ago when my brother Ben boosted me on it. But how could I be scared? I was Ociee Nash. I’d been swinging on ropes from our hayloft since I was four years old.

Our barn never moved fast as the wind.

People and places flickered through my memory’s eye. I thought about every person, every place, and every animal I ever knew. I thought of everything but how to get myself off the almost full throttle train.

Ben grew smaller with my every blink. He was running fast as he could waving and hollering, Ociee, get off! Get off NOW!

I can’t!

You’re gonna get your chicken self killed! JUMP!

BEN! I swallowed hard. One foot loosed itself, then the other. Squeezing shut my eyes, I screamed, Here I come!

I leapt for the weed-covered bank.

The train’s whistle sounded, WOOOOO, Woo!

Head first. I landed hard. I shook my head and spotted our horse, Maud. No wait, it wasn’t Maud, it was Old Horse.

Aren’t you dead, Old Horse?

Sure he was. Hadn’t I cried for hours when Aunt Mamie wrote to tell me they’d put him down? Yet, there he was. Old Horse, plain as day, stood contentedly grazing in the shade of an oak tree.

Old Horse, how’d you get here? Where’s Mr. Lynch? Surely he wouldn’t leave you all by yourself?

A familiar voice called out to me. Ociee, dearest.

"Mama? Mama!"

I couldn’t believe I was seeing her! Mama looked so pretty, exactly like she did in the Gypsy’s painted picture, the one I had carried with me to North Carolina and home again to Abbeville.

Mama came closer. Tangled in tall weeds, I couldn’t move a finger. Was I frozen, not only my feet, but my entire body as well? Frozen? How could it be? The spring afternoon was toasty warm.

Mama smiled. I always loved her cheery face. When her lips parted to reveal white, shining teeth, Mama’s eyes twinkled.

You’re not hurt, Ociee. I’m proud of you for being brave. Even so, my child, it’s best not to be so daring.

Yes, Mama. I’ll be more careful.

Not hurt? I still couldn’t walk to my mama. How I yearned to curl up in her arms. Was she keeping the truth from me? Were my legs gone? I heard about a train chopping a Marshall County man half in two.

Come get me, Mama. Please, I need you!

But my mama, our mama, was dead. She was dead like Old Horse. Measles took her away from us. She’d been gone for so long, too long, how long? Three years long. Why would a bunch of horrid red spots attack a person important to us?

Mama?

My loving, living Mama drifted away like a summer’s cloud.

* * * *

Ociee!

I blinked my eyes, trying desperately to hold them open. Like the rest of my body, they wouldn’t cooperate.

Please, Ociee, please wake up!

My lips moved, but I swallowed my words.

I’m going for Papa. I’ll run like the wind to Fitch’s.

My brother’s panic washed over me like cold water. Wait!

What? Ociee, did you say something? Please tell me you’re not dead!

Don’t know.

Cold and trembling, I wobbled my head. It felt full of fresh-picked cotton. I raised one hand to my face; the other still clutched Mama’s locket. I rubbed my eyes. What, what happened?

Ben knelt down beside me. Are you all right?

I slowly sat up, brushing off weeds and dirt. What a relief, my legs were attached! I wiggled my toes. Rolling my shoulders, I rounded my neck back and forth. The cotton emptied from my head. You get me into more trouble.

Ociee, you’re back!

Seems I am, no thanks to you, Ben Nash.

I’m sorry.

"I know you are, Ben, you always are. I’ll only forgive you if you tell Papa this was your idea."

Guess I should.

I nodded.

"Ociee, I gotta tell you, girl, your jump was amazing! You leapt out so far you looked like a crow trying to escape from Tiger. Then BAM, down you went, head first. You crumpled up like an old rotted scarecrow! He lowered his head. At first I thought you’d died."

I shuddered. Now I know what dead feels like.

You do?

Maybe, but I don’t feel like telling you.

You’re mad. I don’t blame you. Hey, can you stand up?

Ben attempted to steady me. We both wanted to believe I wasn’t hurt.

Can’t do it. I’m dizzy.

As I tried to gather myself, Ben paced about fretting and watching and wringing his hands. Finally, he quieted and sat next to me.

Any better?

Once my brother settled himself, I got calmer.

Think so. Ben, there’s something I gotta tell you. Mama came to me.

Mama? When?

When I hit the ground. I pointed toward the meadow. She was standing over there. Everything in me wanted to touch her, Ben, but I couldn’t move. She watched over me, the same way she did when I had the terrible fever. Mama was misty, as if she was covered with the lace on the parlor windows.

Was she a ghost?

No, Ben, not a ghost. There wasn’t anything scary about her. She was more like an angel. No, not an angel. It was our Mama, the same Mama she’s always been.

I don’t believe you.

I’m not sure I believe me either. But wait, Mama said something. She warned me not to be daring.

Sounds like her.

Yes, it does. I saw Old Horse, too.

Mr. Lynch’s horse?

Yes.

Ociee, he’s dead. You cried. Don’t you remember?

He was here.

Ben, undoubtedly eager to make fun of my crazy talk about Old Horse, gave in to his more tender nature because he understood. During the time I was living in Asheville, North Carolina, our beloved pet Gray Dog passed away. Papa told me losing our dog had just about killed my brother.

We had been raised to understand such things. Through the years, when Mama and Papa, Ben, me, and our older brother Fred lived on our farm in Abbeville, chickens, ducks, even pigs, goats, and cows would get sick and die. Papa always taught us, We farmers must learn to expect losses. Our task is to go on living with courage and with hope.

What we did not expect, however, was for Mama to die. I still get real mad about that. I’m not mad at our mama, not anymore. But I can’t help boiling up at those dern measles for tearing apart our family.

I wasn’t allowed to say ‘dern.’

From time to time, Papa tried to assure us Mama wasn’t really dead. He said she was in a better place. Heaven. He insisted we’d be with her again.

My Bertie was such a perfect woman the Lord needed her more than do we.

I wasn’t absolutely convinced our papa saw eye to eye with the Good Lord and His timing. What I do know is when I jumped from the train our mama came to check on me. I only wish she had stayed longer.

Ben patted my shoulder. You feel like walking home, Ociee? Papa will be getting back soon. We’re supposed to be there.

I stood up. I’m feeling better. Let’s go. Ben, I KNOW Mama was here.

Or maybe, Ociee, you have a big hole in your head. Stop, let me take a look.

Get your dirty hands out of my hair. I did so see Mama.

I reckon. He kicked a rock on the dirt path. I’m sorry.

You should be, Ben, I could have been hurt.

No, Ociee, I’m sorry about Mama. I wish real bad I’d seen her.

I know.

As I thought back on the afternoon, I remembered smelling Mama’s lavender, her sweet scent. I’d never lose that memory of her. Sometimes I’d scratch a tiny piece from a bar of lavender soap and put it under my nose. It brought comfort.

Maybe Mama came down from Heaven to cushion my fall. Perhaps she wanted to check on me like earthbound mamas do for their children. Old Horse was there, too, whether Ben believed me or not. Whatever happened, I was pleased they both appeared, if only for a few seconds.

I was also relieved I didn’t break my leg or injure anything else because I was scheduled to return to Asheville in a few days. I didn’t want to disappoint my Aunt Mamie. She’d be upset.

I wasn’t about to admit it to Ben, but I was actually grateful he hoisted me onto the train.

I had one great ride!

Chapter 2

My adventure was far from the first time a Nash had leapt aboard a moving freight train. Our big brother Fred had done it all the time, at least, before he started courting his bride, Rebecca. He’d hop on, ride a mile, and jump off.

Returning home, Fred would refuse to share a single detail of his daring feat with Ben and me unless we pledged our total silence. Keeping secrets from our parents concerned me, but not for long.

I was riding on a thunderbolt! said Fred. I could feel the tracks throbbing under me. Like being in an earthquake, tremors shot from the soles of my boots to the top of my head. My hat blew off with such force, it almost flew to Holly Springs.

After Rebecca came into his life, Fred pretty much walked around holding her hand and blushing. For a time, our brother clean forgot how to have any fun. At the same time, his passion for trains intensified. He discovered a grown man’s way to be around trains; my brother went to work for the Illinois Central Railroad. His new job took him to Memphis, Tennessee.

Well before Fred got girl-goofy and started working for the railroad, he, Ben, and I regularly took peaches down to the tracks. We’d wait for the southbound train from Waterford, where it stopped to take on water. As it made its way towards Abbeville, we’d stand ready with a sack of peaches for the engineer. Soon as we heard the train’s whistle, we started hollering to wave it down.

Look there!

Here it comes!

The engineer’s leaning out, he must see us!

The boys liked to spot the man shoveling coal into the hot, fiery engine. I was partial to the caboose, my favorite car. The caboose was red and different from the others. Like me, it was the last car in line.

Once in a while, I’d notice a hobo man peeking out from inside a boxcar. Even though hobos scared me plenty, I was as brave as an army soldier standing with my brothers.

Because Fred was much older than us, he’d insist on handing off the sack to the engineer.

Too risky for you two, he’d say.

I didn’t care as much as Ben, who always frowned at Fred.

* * * *

After Fred began his career with the Illinois Central Railroad, we learned many interesting facts from him. One piece of information was particularly disturbing. Seems we weren’t special after all. Fred told us train folks often received gifts of food from farmers. I preferred to think we Nashes were uniquely generous folks. So, even with my excellent memory, I tried to make my smart self forget what Fred said.

According to my brother, there was a disgusting motto, something else I was happier not knowing. He quoted an old engineer, My boy, peaches always taste better at night.

Why, sir?

Because it’s dark, you can’t see the worms you’re eating.

Ben laughed.

I about vomited.

Anybody with sense would know our peaches would never host a slimy worm. Not Papa’s. He was the best farmer ever, even though we did lose our farm. It wasn’t due to Papa’s lack of skill. After Mama died, he discovered he was better suited to working at Fitch’s Mercantile.

As Aunt Mamie said, George Nash is cut out to be a city person.

So was I. I discovered my city mindset during my months with her in the big town of Asheville, North Carolina. That said, being home in Mississippi for the past few weeks had unquestionably brought back the country girl in me.

I was a person who was adaptable, a word Aunt Mamie taught me. It meant I could make myself comfortable in more than one situation. I’d make a point to include my thoughts about the country and the city in my journal. I’d have to admit I had NOT been very adaptable riding the flatcar. I was cross-eyed terrified!

* *

Reviews for The Further Adventures Of Ociee Nash

[juva_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ociee Nash is moving to Memphis, Tennessee! This charming book about the honest and adventurous young girl growing up at the turn of the century. In Memphis she will be reunited with her older brother, meet new family, make new friends, and develop her conscience as she reaches out to the forgotten in her new community. Brash and forthright, Ociee faces all her problems head on with courage and kindness.It's not really my cup of tea but I can imagine a younger version of me being more interested. Not a page turner, but a comforting, familiar, and predictable read for a eight or nine year old.

[dltj_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I, too, received this as an e-book, and -- like others here -- am a little tardy in offering a review. The format offered by the publisher wasn't really conducive to reading online, and it took a while to find that the 'calibre' application could convert it to an epub format that could be read on a portable device. Like one of the other reviewers mentioned, I couldn't imagine reading the third book in a series without reading the first two, and that wasn't going to happen on a computer screen or a ream of printed 8 1/2 by 11 paper.So I did read all three books in the Ociee Nash trilogy. I am understandably not the target audience (middle-aged male), but I enjoyed the stories. Out of the three, the first was the author's best work. The latter works suffered a bit from too many abrupt story line changes without much resolution to the conflicts generated by the story line changes. The prose is a little hard to read at times, which is the only thing stopping me from offering the books to my 8-year-old daughter. She is a ferocious reader, but I'm not sure she has the breadth of reading experience to follow the quick voice changes and the multitude of characters that come and go and then come back again. If you are just starting out on the Ociee Nash series, I definitely recommend starting with the first book. There are plenty of unresolved plot lines for other books, so if the notion that you might not reach a satisfying conclusion at the end of the third book leaves you anxious, you might not want to pick up the series.

[eruantien · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Received as an ebook. Have to say this was not my favorite of the Early Reader books I've received. A little too young for my liking.

[bibliaugrapher · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When I applied for this book I did not realise that it was an e-book so I have procrastinated about reading it. I found it hard going and wonder how it would be on a Kindle - it has made me think about whether I should buy an e-book reader or stick to old fashioned print on paper. Readin on a laptop is not for me.I imagine that the story of Ociee would appeal to my 9 year old grand-daughter who likes books with female protagonists and a sprinkling of adventure. I do not think that it is a great work of children's literature but it has appeal for young girls.

[mellybean36 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received this as an eBook. I had a difficult time reading it, as staring at my computer screen for too long hurts my eyes. However, it was so cute that I really pushed myself to finish it. Ociee Nash is a spunky, fun girl who moves to Memphis with her family at the turn of the century. While I don't think I would seek out other books in this series, I can definitely see how young girls (probably in the 9-12 years old age group) would enjoy this book, as well as the others about Ociee and her adventures.

[hobbitprincess · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a delightful book! If I had young children, this would be a book I would share with them. It's sweetly innocent with story lines that keep it interesting. Ociee isn't a perfect little girl; she gets in her share of trouble, but she always learns from her mistakes. Her brother Ben tries her patience and her father's too, but that makes the story more interesting. I especially enjoyed the story line about the "witch" - there is indeed a good lesson there that we all need to learn.

[karenweyant · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ociee Nash is the main character in this work of historical fiction that is aimed towards the age level of 12 year olds (or perhaps a bit younger). I found that this book, that takes place in the early 1900's, is a delightful "romp" of historical fiction and that the main character is fun and appealing (a bit like a female Tom Sawyer). However, in some ways the book may be regarded as a bit too cutsy. Furthermore, I received this book as an ebook, and while I have never read an ebook before, I decided to give this a shot. I found that I may be a bit outdated -- but I will stick to my paper editions -- reading and critiquing work on a computer is very difficult. Still, even though I did not read the first two books in this series, I can see why younger children would be interested in this series.

[black_samvara · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Early Reviewers Program! A great opportunity to reads outside your comfort zone :)Young adult, set in America in the late 1890's featuring an adorable tomboy called Ociee. I hear this is based on the true life of Propst's grandmother in Asheville, North Carolina and it's a lovely slice of historical life. Ociee has a loving Papa and two brothers, her Mama died of measles and she has a vast extended family captured by her gift for making friends. This has a bit of a Huck Finn / Anne of Green Gables feel to it and the books follow Ociee over three years starting from the family farm, the her aunt's house in Asheville (to become a lady) and on to Abbeville, Mississippi. I'm charmed by her adventures, the deep love her family shares for one another and by the writing style itself.

[eenerd · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I received this as an ebook, which I have found difficult to read, since I neither like to sit in front of the computer all day nor read on my phone screen for a long time. What I read of it though, was not terrible, as far as the plot itself is concerned. It read more like a screenplay than a book, though, which I didn't care for. It seemed to lack a certain depth to the writing and the storytelling, and was generally awkward.

[librarypatron · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A delightful story about a young girl who chooses to meet the trials of life with constant hope, a determined courage and an adventurous spirit. I believe Ociee Nash is a role model for younger children because her character is caring, charming, amiable and willing to be a friend to everyone she comes across. This series (I have read all three books) is suitable for a young audience, preschool children who like bedtime stories, and story time at the library, older readers may find the writing basic and the story too simplistic to hold their attention.

[tizzzielish · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book through "Library Thing Early Reviewers." It is the Captivating story of young Ociee Nash - a tomboy on the verge of becoming young lady. The novel is based on the life and character of the author’s grandmother. Ociee’s love for adventure, along with her tender heart get her into some interesting scrapes, including the time she sought to befriend an elderly recluse whom the children had called ‘The Witch.’ The writing style is delightful, with much gentle humor and unexpected turns of phrase. Here is a brief quote: “Ociee, please don’t wear the hat,” said Papa. “It’s filthy with road dust.” “But this is my traveling hat. It gives me courage.” I looked in the mirror. Papa was right. My dress looked like it belonged to a princess, but with my hat on, I was a princess who was going catfishing. I enjoyed this book so much that I had to also read the other two books in the Ociee series: Book One: A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street Book Two: Ociee on Her Own

[lalawe_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sweet and charming. Other reviewers have compared it to Anne of Green Gables and Pollyanna - I'd agree more with the Pollyanna. As an adult, I found it a bit simplistic and, well, almost shallow, so while I think it would be excellent for younger children, it doesn't hold up as well for adults.

[nitaneelyon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have not read the first 2 books yet, but oh how I would have loved to have read this series as a child. I will be reading the other 2 shortly and was so glad that all 3 were included in the e-book.The trilogy oftens reminds me of Anne from Anne of Green Gables which happens to be one of my all time favorites.Well written for young adults and adults who don't mind YA books, the book gives a peek into the past, while having charming characters lead the way. Granted it's a glossed up version since every stranger "turns out to be a good person" which is highly unrealistic, but in fiction story, I'm fine with that.I'm thinking of sending to my goddaughter who has reading issues to see if it might catch her attention. She's about the same age as the main character.It's an easy and light read that I would recommend easily.

[adrateia_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I fear I’m too old to really have enjoyed this, but this book was charming and uplifting. I can definitely see the appeal from a child’s perspective, and I’d definitely recommend this to family and friends with children. Ociee Nash was a lovable, strong character but again, this wasn’t directed to my age group and I can’t fully appreciate it.

[kristincedar · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Further Adventures of Ociee Nash is a terrific ending to the trilogy by Milam McGraw Propst. The characters grow under the direction of Propst, and any reader, whether they are picking up this individual book, or are continuing the series, can fall for these characters and grow to enjoy their adventures. It is a real treat to have not just this book, but the whole collection of Propst’s works in my library, and cannot wait for a new book, should there be one.

[artistguy_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have not read the other books in this series, but after reading this one to my kid I have decided to read them all. I like the way the author used different styles of speech, or slang, but didn't over do it. Really helps set the mood and location. I think the characters are believable and lovable. At first I was worried about not having read the other books first, but it holds well on it's own. I'd definitely recommend it to any parents who like to read out loud to their children. I'm sure the whole series is good! Thanks to the author for a new classic!

[biblioholic29 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Eleven-year-old Ociee Nash was born and raised on a farm in Abbeville, Mississippi in the late 19th century. A year after her mother died, when Ociee was only 9, she headed to Asheville, North Carolina to live with her Aunt Mamie. Her adventures there are recorded in "A Flower Blooms on Charlotte Street". Ociee came back home in "Ociee on Her Own" for her brother, Fred's wedding and now she's moving, with her father and her other brother Ben, to Memphis, Tennessee where Fred and his wife live. Ociee Nash, like Pollyanna and Anne Shirley, has a knack for making people love her. Early in life Ociee learned that a person's appearance has nothing to do with their inner beauty and in her third book of adventures, she once again proves that a caring heart and a willingness to look beyond a person's outside, can break down walls and create friends.The author has based these books on the life of her grandmother, the real Ociee Nash. Knowing that the books are a fictionalization of a real person's life brings added depths to the major events and lessons in Ociee's life. Though they're intended for an audience much younger than I, I thoroughly enjoyed reading them and would highly recommend them for children between the ages of 8 and 11. If I had a little girl, I know I'd encourage her to find Ociee Nash.

[doxtator · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Disclosure: This book was received from application to the Early Reviewers Program. Third of a series, this book is written at the middle grade level, and follows the life of Ociee Nash and her family starting in 1900. The family moves from Abbeville, Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee. The story is told in a first person account from Ociee. The book is well suited to the grade levels for which it is written, and it is very nice to have a young, strong female character to read about. In some ways, Ociee is similar to Pollyanna as a character: she’s very friendly, a bit boisterous, a tomboy, brave, and smart. Additionally, from the author’s notes, it is known that Ociee Nash was a real person (the author’s grandmother), and these are extrapolated adventures from her childhood.The book does have some drawbacks. Overall, it has a too-smooth, too-positive feel, and even the more harrowing adventures and sad parts are slickly sugary, or are compensated for with a redeeming component. Disappointment seems to be the strongest negative emotion that can be conjured, and the constant upbeat writing style can become a bit tiring--at least for an adult to read, perhaps it would not be so for the correct age group for which the book is aimed. Secondly, the dialogue can be a bit stilted. In general, most of it doesn’t sound like how real people would talk, but more like an idealized version of what real people might say. The relentless cheerfulness is embedded in the narrative, the dialogue, and in the story arc.I received this book as an e-book, and the publisher generously included the other two Ociee Nash books along with the one for which I am doing the review. After reading the third one, I did not feel compelled to read the other two.

[shawnmarie_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to read the first three books in the Ociee Nash collection as part of the LibraryThing Early Reviewers group.After a slow start, I did eventually begin to become interested in the adventures of Ociee Nash and her family, but it did take some time.Written for a young adult crowd, I really felt the voice of the book was a little too young for teens and too old for elementary. This would place the voice at middle school level.Unfortunately I don't think the things that Ociee gets into would largely appeal to this crowd - at least as they are today. I think the story could be studied as a Huck Finn type alternative, but really, I'd rather read about Huck.Sadly I just did not enjoy these stories. No matter how much I tried to place myself in the spot of a Young Adult reader, I just could not get into them. The rather tedious use of local language and a lack of interesting story line just made these books a downer for me.

[brigitte64 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

When I read this book, I was incredibly bored. A girl like Ociee Nash - could someone like her really have existed in those days? Were the 1900s really that easy? The constant overflow of sweetness, where everything is exciting and cheerful and happy, makes this story seem unreal-almost unreadable for me. The overall effect, was flat and colorless. Nothing really happened, other than a girl who moved with her family to another place. The most exciting event was a snake bite, which was resolved in only one page. I would never recommend this story for middle school kids. What should they get out of this, an idea of what the "good old times" were like? Compared to modern society, which is overloaded with excitement, people 100 years ago were truly more excited about simple things. But even then, people had to deal with jealosy, fear (more than what dress to wear for the first day of school!), finding work, racial issues remaining since the end of the Civil War, and many other real problems. Kids today need a different message about lessons learned from the past, and how to apply those lessons in our daily lives.