Powerful. This is the sort of books that they should read in schools as recommended reading. Human, emotive, touching and very raw. I could see this being a movie very easily because it's that good (in the way that a movie would ruin it likely). From a white, foreign, perspective the American Civil War and the continuing racial tensions have always been so difficult to understand because I grew up in a country where slavery was made illegal hundreds of years ago in a multicultural school where racism was never even considered or seen. I realize that's a privileged thing to say, but this book just illustrated so much of the historical pain behind the current problems that it seems so relevant. I especially liked the beginning where she illustrates that the stereotype of the southern black ex-slave is so strong to make people assume she's a fake and the part where she comforts the dying black soldier. You can see the transition from a certain naivete into a much harder woman just between those two points. A very dynamic read with developed characters. Great history.

This was a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed learning about this historical strong woman. However, the violence was heavy handed. Overall, I'm splitting the difference for three stars.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author left me wanting more. Other than knowing that Cathy Williams was a real person, I’m ashamed to say I don’t know how historically accurate the balance of this book is. That being said, if only half of the cruelty described in this book actually happened, slavery was one of the most abhorrent parts of our country’s history. The author made Cathy Williams come so alive for me that after I finished the book I spent a couple of hours reading about her. There is nothing better than reading about strong women and she certainly was that.

Cathy Williams was a slave in 19th century Missouri when the Civil War changed her life forever. Torn away from her family and the only way of life she ever knew, Williams disguised herself as a man and joined the army yo fight with the Buffalo Soldiers. Struggling to keep her identity hidden, trying to deal with the graphic horrors of war and never losing sight of her ultimate goal of finding her family, this is a remarkable story based on a real woman. Bird reminds us of all the forgotten women in history, women whose stories should be told, women whose names we should all know