Delia Ray
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A Nation Torn
The Story of How the Civil War Began
Puffin Books, 1996
Description Buy the Book

A Nation Torn vividly describes the crucial events leading to the War Between the States and brings to life the unforgettable individuals of that era—from the eloquent peacemaker Henry Clay, to Harriet Tubman, the courageous conductor of the Underground Railroad, and the fanatical abolitionist John Brown. Including letters, diaries, eyewitness accounts, and many vintage photographs, A Nation Torn tells the extraordinary story of the events leading to the war that tore apart the nation.

An ALA Best Book For Young Adults

A Bank Street College Children’s Book of the Year

An NCSS-CBC “Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies”

“This will become a well-used resource in any library. . . . Ray successfully puts the confusing events of 1860 and 1861 into clear focus and, by using primary-source material, adds a human perspective.”
— School Library Journal (starred review)


“Beautifully framed with an account of the events at Fort Sumter, this presentation of the beginning of the Civil War has been expertly crafted. . . . A fine addition to nonfiction literature for children.”
— The Horn Book