Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel

Author: C. M. Butzer

Illustrator: C. M. Butzer

Peach’s Picks Rating:

Year of publication: 2009

City of publication: New York

Publisher: The Bowen Press

ISBN: 978-0-06-156176-4

Author website: http://www.cmbutzer.com/

Illustrator website: See “Author website” entry

Media used for illustrations: Drawings that are digitally enhanced

Annotation: A graphic novel using primary sources to tell the story of the Battle of Gettysburg, the creation of the soldiers’ cemetery at the site, and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Personal reaction to the book: While this book has some slight flaws it is still useful when discussing the Battle of Gettysburg and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address with middle school students. It could be especially useful either prior to or after a visit to Gettysburg National Military Park. Two flaws stood out as I read the book. First, the drawings of people are not quite distinct enough to identify Union soldiers from Confederate soldiers. While “the cast of characters” (pages 6-7) seems as though it will be helpful, the drawings are not quite detailed enough to easily distinguish characters. Secondly, the text is sometimes clunky and does not always flow smoothly. The author/illustrator is to be applauded for using primary sources as the text, but this device does not always serve the narration well. Even with those criticisms, the book is a valuable teaching tool that makes this part of American history easily accessible. The book opens with a double-page spread of the copyright page and the dedication page. Along the bottom of these two pages runs a view of Gettysburg, a small town in rural Pennsylvania. The next page is a bird’s eye view map of the town and surrounding area where battles were fought. The map contains a compass rose to help with orientation. The following double-page spread shows portraits labeled with the names of 18 characters who are key to the story. The next double-page spread (pages 8-9) offers a forward telling of historical events leading up to the battle. The story’s action begins on page 10 when the reader sees soldiers marching into Gettysburg and its inhabitants leaving. The story proceeds, showing a battle, the aftermath, the movement to create a memorial to soldiers, a portion of Secretary of State Edward Everett’s speech, and Abraham Lincoln giving the Gettysburg Address to an assembled crowd. Author’s notes are included at the end of the book. Each note details the action of one or more panels. It is recommended that a reader review the notes while reading the book. Dialogue is featured in bubbles while narration is shown in rectangular boxes. Through text and illustrations the author/illustrator shows how this part of the Civil War affected the small town of Gettysburg as well as the nation. The book is paginated for easy reference and includes the entire Gettysburg address on page 79 as well as a bibliography, endnotes, and webliography. The grayish blue, black and white illustrations are presented in panels surround by white borders. They proceed thorough the book in a logical pattern. The illustrations are seriously presented matching the somberness of the story.

General curricular connections:

• Civil War
• Gettysburg Address
• Abraham Lincoln
• Battle of Gettysburg
• American History
• Speech and debate classes and clubs

Specific example of curricular connection matched to State Standards:
Subject: History
Grade level: 8

Standards:

California State Standards

History – Social Studies Content Standards for Public Schools: Kindergarten through Grade 12

Grade 8 United States History: Growth and Conflict

8.10 Students analyze the multiple causes, key events, and complex consequences of the Civil War.

4. Discuss Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and his significant writings and speeches and their relationship to the Declaration of Independence, such as his “House Divided” speech (1858), Gettysburg Address (1863), Emancipation Proclamation (1863), and inaugural addresses (1861 and 1865).

Recommended grade levels:

School Library Journal recommends this book for use with grades 5-9

Booklist recommends this book for use with grades 4-8

Peach’s Picks recommends this book for use with grades 5 and up

Awards/Recognitions: None known 

Note: This book was selected from the list “Other books receiving Top Ten votes, Summer 2009." This book applies to the assignment criteria – nonfiction graphic novel.

Allusion: Pages 58-59; the horizontal three panels covering the double-spread allude to the progression of Civil Rights in the United States

Use of sophisticated language: Page 79; The inclusion of “The Gettysburg Address” printed in its entirety. “The Gettysburg Address” is also found within the text of the book.

Use of sophisticated language: Pages 45-47; Containing excerpts of the speech by Secretary of State, Edward Everett

Symbolism: Page 56; Handcuffs with broken chains show symbolizing breaking the bonds of slavery

Book cover picture retrieved from http://www.cmbutzer.com/store.php