Horrors of Andersonville

Horrors of Andersonville
By Catherine Gourley
Twenty-First Century Books, 2010. 192 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

In need of a place to house Union prisoners during the Civil War, the Confederacy built Andersonville, a prison camp designed to hold 10,000 prisoners. However, over 30,000 prisoners were sent there and subjected to little food, squalid conditions, and completely inefficient medical care. As a result, 13,000 prisoners died, and following the war, Henry Wirz, the camp's commander, stood trial for war crimes.

Gourley provides readers with an inside view of an interesting piece of American history. With excepts from the writings of camp survivors, readers can truly connect with the prisoners and sympathize with the horrible conditions they faced. I had one problem with the book: it did jump from one prisoner to another and back again--I had to keep consulting the cast of characters at the beginning of the book. Other than that, though, I really enjoyed this book.

AE