Iron Thunder by Avi has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine. It is in the “I Witness” series.
Iron Thunder by Avi has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine. It is in the “I Witness” series.
During the Civil War, 13-year-old Tom Carroll’s father is killed while serving in the Union Army. Living in a tenement in Brooklyn, Tom’s mother asks him to help support the family. Through her contacts doing laundry for Union officers at the nearby Navy Yard, she arranges for Tom to meet with the yardmaster to discuss job options. He is told of a project underway to construct the first ironclad warship commissioned by the Union Navy. Tom meets with the designer of the new craft, John Ericsson, and although Tom doesn’t know what to expect, he quickly gains the respect and admiration of Ericsson. His newfound job places Tom in the midst of the epic battle between the Monitor and Merrimac.
None with the exception of one line that says, “God’s blessing no one was killed.”
None
Although Tom is skeptical of the Union’s forces after his father is killed, he follows his mother’s direction in pursuing a job related to the war effort. He also demonstrates loyalty and courtesy to both Ericsson during the ship’s construction and later to Capt. Worden as the ironclad heads to battle.
Tom uses Lord in one exclamatory expression. Set during the Civil War, the story includes descriptions of the wartime weaponry and skirmishes between the Monitor, Merrimac and other maritime vessels. In addition, the story line includes minimal details of soldiers who are wounded or killed during battle.
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