Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Sisters of Shiloh

This is a lovely, heartbreaking novel about two sisters, Josephine and Libby, who pretend to be boys and enlist in the Confederate army to avenge the death of Libby's husband Arden. The novel is actually written by two sisters, Kathy and Becky Hepinstall, and they spare the reader from none of the ugliness - or humanity - of a war fought at such close range, between enemies who often weren't sure why they were enemies.

That Josephine and Libby are able to pass for several months as boys is surprising, but that they are able to withstand the hardships they endure - with differing levels of success - is astounding. Although this is a novel of war, it is ultimately a story of the relationship between the sisters, and how their relationship is formed by each of their strengths and weaknesses.

This was an excellent read, and I highly recommend it.

Sisters of Shiloh

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