John Lincoln Clem - Civil War Drummer Boy

Reviewed by: Melissa Madigan - Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 2, 2017

Review

One of four books in the Based on a True Story historical fiction series.This edition takes place during the Civil War, and we meet John Lincoln Clem, a nine year old who is determined to fight for his country. John runs away from home and sneaks onto a train carrying soldiers from the Third Ohio Union Regiment. The men take him in and help him become a drummer boy. John eventually takes up a gun and starts fighting too when he is captured by the Confederates. In the end he is sent home where he is hailed as a hero.There is lots of adventure and suspense. This book gives a great eyewitness account of how it was to be fighting in the civil war.

Overall Book Score: very good