Civil War on Sunday is the twenty-first installment to the Magic Tree House series. During the story, Jack and Annie help rescue a young Union drummer boy named John from the battlefield. Returning home, they learn, to their surprise and delight, that he's their great-great grandfather. The book is preceded by Dingoes at Dinnertime and succeeded by Revolutionary War on Wednesday.
Synopsis[]
Jack and Annie are transported by the magic tree house to the time of the American Civil War, where they meet Clara Barton.
Chapters[]
- A Light in the Woods
- Cruel War
- Field Hospital
- Freedom Fighters
- Angel of the Battlefield
- Keep Low
- Helping Hands
- Brothers
- Don't Give Up
- Home Sweet Home
Plot[]
Annie saw a flash in the woods nearby, she realizes that the Magic Tree House has returned. Even though a thunderstorm was coming, the kids run to the forest. Morgan le Fay, has left a note saying that the kingdom of Camelot. They must collect four different types of writing that will help save it: Something to follow, something to send, something to learn, and something to lend. The first of these writings will come from the Civil War.
The treehouse had landed down at the edge of the open field shown on the cover of Morgan’s book, and the children’s outfits fit the historical period. As Union soldiers stumbled out from the tree line, battered and bruised, Annie insisted on helping. Jack tried to stop her, believing they would just be in the way, but Annie ran forward. Together, Jack and Annie helped the soldier to his feet and guided him toward a group of white tents—the field hospital. The sight of the wounded soldiers in the hospital had been difficult for the children to endure, but Annie was determined to help. She approached one of the nurses and offered to assist with distributing food and water. The nurse had also asked them to lift the soldiers’ spirits, giving them a list of ways to do so. Jack realized that the writing Morgan had sent them to find was likely here, making their mission complete, but Annie refused to leave. She walked through the tents, spreading encouragement to the soldiers.
In a tent with African American soldiers, one of them spoke to Jack. He explained that he had been a slave and was now fighting for his family’s freedom. Jack, who had read about slavery in the Civil War, reassured the soldier that his descendants would one day be free. When Clara Barton arrived at the camp with a wagon full of wounded soldiers, Annie asked if there was anything they could do to help. Clara asked if they would accompany her back to the battlefield to search for more injured soldiers. Annie agreed immediately, while Jack hesitated, though he reluctantly agreed, not wanting to show his fear.
Jack reading Clara Barton's list.
Clara drove the wagon straight into the chaos—cannon fire, musket smoke, and rough terrain. When the smoke cleared, she sent Jack and Annie to the river to fetch clean water and look for wounded soldiers. The first soldier they found was a young boy dressed in gray, marking him as Confederate. Jack hesitated, unsure about helping an enemy, but Clara made it clear that any wounded soldier needed assistance. Soon, they came across a group of Union soldiers, who asked them to take their drummer boy, John, to the hospital for heat stroke. Annie remarked that John resembled Jack. Clara asked the children to help bring down John’s fever. After John woke from a nightmare and begged to return to the battlefield, Annie tried to reassure him, but he only became more agitated. Jack assured him he could go back soon, which calmed John, who then mentioned that Jack looked like one of his younger brothers.
The children reunited with Clara, and they watched distant flashes of gunfire, mourning the soldiers’ fates. Clara told them it was time to return to their families. Jack and Annie headed back to the treehouse, which transported them back to Frog Creek Woods, near their home. As they arrived, the children flinched at what they thought was cannon fire, but realized it was only thunder. Morgan had left them a note, asking them to return to the treehouse on Wednesday. The children ran home as rain began to fall, calling out their love to their parents. Jack asked his father if any of their ancestors had fought in the Civil War and discovered that his great-great-great-grandfather had been John, the drummer boy, who had survived the war!
Notes on time and place settings[]
Trivia[]
- This book is dedicated to Megan Elisabeth Barber. Mary Pope Osbourne said she gave her a great idea.