Book review: The Last Full Measure by Ann Rinaldi

The Last Full Measure by Ann Rinaldi (Published by Harcourt, November 15, 2010)

When Tacy Stryker was a little girl, she was very close to her older brother, David. But then an accident left one of David’s legs twisted, leaving David very bitter. After that, their relationship never was the same. David only became even more angry and resentful when the Civil War began and he couldn’t join the army along with their brothers, Brandon and Joel, and their father, a doctor in the Union Army.

With their father gone, David is left in charge of looking out for Tacy and their mother. Tacy still loves her older brother, but she hates that he has become such an angry person and constantly bosses her around and punishes her, especially since she is fourteen now, and not a little girl. When the war comes to their home town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in July 1863, and the residents must hide in their homes in fear of their safety while listening to the battle raging outside, Tacy begins to see hints of the old David, and starts to rebuild her relationship with him.

The Last Full Measure is another good historical novel by Ann Rinaldi. Unlike many books about Gettysburg that focus on the soldiers, this book was about an ordinary family, their relationships, their daily struggles, and how the battle affected them. One thing I would have liked to read more about was Tacy and David’s prior relationship before his accident, because sometimes I was a bit frustrated at Tacy tolerating how mean he could be since there wasn’t much in the book about how he was before his injury. Still, I overall enjoyed this book and would recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction, particularly those who have read other books by the author.

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.