Matt Howard is old enough to join the Southern guerrillas and help protect Missouri from Union forces. But Matt would rather farm than fight. What’s more, Matt’s mother insists that the family take a neutral position. In Missouri’s Civil War, armed men often bang on doors in the middle of the night, shouting “Union or Secesh?” The wrong answer can get a civilian killed.

“Hughes’s strong Civil War novel depicts the plight of families caught between warring neighbors . . . A compelling story about courage and sacrifice . . . History buffs will appreciate Hughes’s accurate detailing of the events and moods of a tumultuous time.” – Publishers Weekly

“Delivering lifelike characters and a stimulating plot, this novel is a good exploration of the turmoil surrounding war-torn Missouri.” – School Library Journal