Women in Blue or Gray

Gr 2–6—The Civil War is one of the most fascinating periods in American history, but nearly all of the stories about it revolve around famous men. In this recording, celebrated storyteller Jim Weiss attempts to remedy the imbalance by sharing six tales of remarkable women from both sides of the conflict. With the exception of Harriet Tubman, the women profiled are not widely known, although their astonishing stories certainly deserve recognition. The stories feature fascinating figures such as Ginnie and Lottie Moon, sisters who used their charm and skill with disguises to spy for the Confederacy; Sally Tompkins, who ran the Confederacy's most successful military hospital and was given the rank of Captain in the Confederate army; Anna Ella Carroll, who served as a military advisor to President Lincoln and whose ideas on strategy led to the successful siege of Vicksburg; Sarah and Angelina Grimke, sisters from a wealthy slave-holding family in the Deep South who became ardent abolitionists and later campaigned for women's suffrage; and Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the first female surgeon in the U.S. Army and the only woman to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Weiss knows how to spin an engaging tale and can convincingly impersonate a wide variety of characters, from elderly Southern women to President Lincoln. This educational and entertaining production would be an excellent addition to library collections.—Margo Tanenbaum, Rancho Cucamonga Public Library, CA