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Confederate soldier Emery Jones captures a Union soldier and delivers him to Andersonville prison. Only after arrival does he become aware of the horrors of the place, and realizes he needs to make it right. From the prison’s stockade wall, confederate sentry Dance Pickett has seen thousands of men starving to death within the overcrowded prison. Commanded not to interfere, he wonders how to get the soldiers the help they need. Feeling as if no one wants to help, Dance is at his wit’s end.

Violet Stiles has worked tirelessly to help Confederate soldiers with various causes, and has learned to hate all Yankees. After visiting Andersonville, she is sickened by the horrific conditions. Emery, Dance and Violet are determined to make a difference, feeling they can get their fellow townspeople to band together for the soldiers. Though accused of treason, scorned by others, and facing extreme opposition, the three are committed to loving their enemies.

Before reading this book I had vaguely heard of Andersonville. After reading it I will never forget the prisoners who languished behind its walls. Tracy Groot’s extensive historical research on the appalling conditions tells how and why 13,000 Union soldiers died within its walls in 1864. I found many similarities to those who closed their eyes to evil, justifying their own blindness, during World War II as millions of Jews were killed. This was why townspeople were forced to tour concentration camps, after they were liberated, to look at what they had allowed to happen and see if it made a difference in their souls. I wonder if it did.

Highly recommended for Adults.

Book review link: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/2017/07/11/the-sentinels-of-andersonvil... ( )

This was hard to put down. What these men went through was horrific. If you are faint of heart you may not want to read. I knew how bad it was supposed to be but never knew it was that bad.it is hard to understand how people in a town right next to this place could let this happen. The characters in this from both sides of the war are well done. I received a copy of this book from bookfun.org for a fair and honest opinion. ( )

January 18th was Sanctity of Human Life Sunday in the United States. Proverbs 24:10-12 was included in our Sunday School class lesson —

If you do nothing in a difficult time,
your strength is limited.
Rescue those being taken off to death,
and save those stumbling toward slaughter.
If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,”
won’t He who weighs hearts consider it?
Won’t He who protects your life know?
Won’t He repay a person according to his work?

As I read these words I was reminded of Tracy Groot’s Civil War era book, The Sentinels of Andersonville. In this gripping novel, the characters must come face to face with what they really believe — are all men worth saving, or only those we call our brothers? Both of my book clubs read Sentinels this month because we are hosting an Author Meet And Greet for Tracy Groot. She is in town to take part in Museum Night at the Andersonville Historic Site just 45 minutes from my home town. I am beyond excited about meeting her and hearing about how she came to write Sentinels. To say the novel is moving and thought-provoking is certainly an understatement. One of By The Book’s members told me it was the best historical fiction we had read in the 12+ years of meeting. If you have not read this book, by all means pick it up and move it to the very top of your TBR pile.

Three young Southerners come face to face with the horrors of Andersonville Prison in the last year of the Civil War. Sherman is advancing on Atlanta and the prison population has increased to 28,000 men in the 26 acre camp. Conditions can only be described as hellish, yet there are glimpses of hope and help amid the darkness. Violet Stiles, an Americus belle, Dance Pickett, guard at the prison and Emery Jones an Alabama soldier seek, to rally the people of Americus to alleviate the suffering at the prison. But their new group, the FAP – Friends of Andersonville – is met with varying degrees of dismissal and open hostility. It is hard for a town that has faced so much loss at the hands of an invader to find compassion for the misery of the enemy.

Tracy Groot has written a book that needed to be told. Fair-handed on both sides of the issue, she reveals the true heart of the conflict between the North and the South. Characters, both major and minor, are well-developed. The dialog of the characters advances the story, but also fleshes out their personalities, motives and feelings. I especially liked Violet’s character. A true Southern belle, she has been shielded by the harsh realities of the prison by her father. But when she comes face to face with the truth, she falters only a moment, then gathers her will to do what is right. A member of Page Turners said that Violet was cross between Scarlet and Melanie from Gone with The Wind. I also liked the relationship that develops between Emery and the Union soldier, Lew, he condemns to the prison. And Dance’s sacrifice to uphold a promise made me wonder what my own response would be if faced with a similar situation.

As always when trying to review a truly wonderful book, I find my words are inadequate. So I will leave you with this one admonishment — read this book!!

Very Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults. ( )

A Poignant Story Well Told

Andersonville. Just the mention of the name brings to mind so many haunting stories of the horror visited upon so many Union soldiers during the American Civil War. I have had a life-long interest in this tragic time period and have read numerous non-fiction books about Andersonville. In The Sentinels of Andersonville, Tracy Groot tells the story of this prison camp in a very touching way. I was interested in the story from the first page to the last. I will say that this novel is not for the faint-of-heart. It is deeply moving, describing in vivid detail the heartbreaking, tragic conditions suffered by those imprisoned in the camp. It is not a sweet and fluffy romance. It should not be. Ms. Groot has done her research and has written a story in which doing the right thing is not the easy thing.

There are three main characters in the book. Violet Stiles is a Southern belle who lives near Andersonville prison. Her father is a doctor at the prison and treats Union soldiers even though he is loyal to the Confederacy. Violet visits the prison one day and sees the inhumanity with her own eyes. She is appalled by the conditions and is determined to do something to help the Union soldiers. Violet lives in the town of Americus, where many residents have lost fathers, husbands, and sons at the hands of the Yankees. They have no sympathy for anyone being held in Andersonville. Will Violet be able to change the views of the townspeople? She is well respected, but she might be going too far, expecting support for her mission.

Dance Pickett is a sentry at the prison, keeping watch over the soldiers. He is deeply affected by the neglect he sees every day. Dance cares for Violet and helps her with her plan to aid the prisoners. Dance has become friends with a Confederate corporal, Emery Jones, who has just delivered a Union soldier from Pennsylvania to the prison. He, too, is shocked by what he sees at Andersonville. Emery decides to join the efforts of Violet and Dance. Will their mission to aid the prisoners be successful, or will all of them be hanged as traitors to the Confederate cause?

The book is full of suspense and the characters are strong and endearing. The ongoing message throughout is one of right prevailing over wrong and the need to take action rather than sitting back and ignoring evil. The actions of one person can make a difference. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are interested in the Civil War years. It is a well told story about a very sad situation. You will not be able to read this book without being deeply touched.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review. ( )