The five Aprils are the five years of the American Civil War. Fifteen-year-old Jethro Creighton lives those five Aprils, and it's through his experiences that we follow the paths of his father and brothers and the path of the nation. This is a powerful, poignant story of the agony of war. The family is torn apart as father and brothers disagree on their political viewpoints, just as the nation is torn apart by its differences. Jethro finds his way to manhood amidst the struggles around him. Great historical fiction! It's one of my personal favorites. Ages 9-13 224 pages