Shades of Gray

Left an orphan by the Civil War, 12-year-old Will Page has to leave his ruined home in the Shenandoah Valley. He must go to live with his mother's relatives, whom he has never seen before, on their tiny farm in the Virginia Piedmont. To make matters worse, his uncle refused to fight the Yankees. In fact, Uncle Jed stayed safely at home throughout the whole conflict between the states, while his neighbors were risking their lives for the Confederacy. How can Will stay under the same roof as a coward? Teacher and author, Carolyn Reeder vividly portrays an angry Will gradually overcoming his own loss and developing tolerance for his uncle's opposing views. The far-reaching consequences of the Civil War become dramatically clear to young people with John McDonough's sensitive narration.