Guts for Glory: The Story of Civil War Soldier Rosetta Wakeman

Lapati presents the fascinating wartime experiences of Rosetta Wakeman (1843–1864), who fought for the Union Army as a man named Lyons. The book begins with Wakeman’s decision to leave home: “She bound her chest, got dressed in her pa’s old clothes, clutched a pair of shears in one hand, took a deep breath... and cut off her braid.” After the subject enlists, her troop eventually ventures to Louisiana, where the story ends with Lyons’s regiment confronting the Confederates. Throughout, excerpts from the soldier’s letters detail Lyons’s experience, culminating in a biography that concludes with Wakeman’s own prayer for safety. Artwork deploys highly detailed scratchboard techniques that resemble woodcut illustrations, providing a gritty dimensionality to the work. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Extensive back matter concludes. Ages 7–12. (Feb.)