William Henry is a Fine Name - A Book Review

I am a huge fan of Author Cathy Gohlke.  Saving Amelie and Band of Sisters are two of my all time favorite books.  I guess I am going backwards because I just now read Cathy's first book William Henry is a Fine Name.  This novel won the Christy Award in 2007 and after reading it I can see why!

One of the things I love about Cathy Gohlke is how she can write a fictional story based on historical events and stay true to the history of that time period.  She makes history come alive through her novels!  

The book is pre-Civil War and is about the Underground Railroad.  As a homeschool mom I think this book is perfect for the classroom, but more suited for older students as there are some topics that are for mature audiences.  There was nothing written that was detailed in an inappropriate way, but there is mention of slave women giving birth to white children and disturbing things such as a black man getting his foot cut off as punishment for trying to run away.  So parents might want to read this book before passing it on to a teen just to make sure it is something that is suitable for your family.

In William Henry is a Fine Name you will read about Robert.  Robert is a 13 year old living in the south in 1859.  His family's views on slavery is split.  His mother sees slavery as a natural part of life and his father is against it.  Robert also has a best friend named William Henry who is black and Robert is told that his best friend is less than human because of his color.  Robert must decide for himself where he stands on slavery.  

There is a second book - I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires - that is the sequel to William Henry is a Fine Name.  It continues on with the telling of Robert and I can't wait to read it!

If you would like to purchase William Henry is a Fine Name you can by clicking HERE.

About the Author:

Cathy Gohlke is the two-time Christy Award-winning author of the critically acclaimed novels Saving Amelie, Band of Sisters, Promise Me This (listed by Library Journal as one of the best books of 2012), William Henry Is a Fine Name, and I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires (listed by Library Journal as one of the best books of 2008), which also won the American Christian Fiction Writers' Book of the Year Award. 
Cathy has worked as a school librarian, drama director, and director of children's and education ministries. When not traipsing the hills and dales of historic sites, she, her husband, and their dog, Reilly, divide their time between Northern Virginia and their home on the banks of the Laurel Run in Elkton, Maryland. Visit her website at www.cathygohlke.com

***This book was provided to me by Moody Publishers in exchange for my honest review.