The following review is in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for LS5603.20, Genre 4—nonfiction.
1. Bibliography
Walker, Sally M. 2005. Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving
the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley. Ill. by Laura Westlund.
Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books. ISBN 1-57505-830-8
2. Plot Summary
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine is the story of the first submarine
ever to sink an enemy ship. The submarine was the H. L. Hunley,
and she was built for the Confederate navy in 1863. This book is
divided into two sections. The first four chapters describe how and
why the Hunley was built, her mission, and the disaster that sunk
her. There is also a description of how a submarine works. The
second section of the book is about the archaeological efforts to
locate and raise the Hunley and find and interpret the artifacts
found inside her.
3. Critical Analysis
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine won several major awards when
it was published, including the Robert F. Sibert Award, ALA Notable
Book, Booklist Top 10 Sci-Tech Books for Youth, International
Reading Association Teacher’s Choice, and Orbis Pictus Recom-
mended Title. Such awards are a good indication that the infor-
mation in the book is accurate. Ms. Walker has won awards for
another one of her other books as well.
Secrets is organized chronologically, beginning with the building
of the Hunley during the Civil War and ending in 2004 with the
burial of the remains of her crew. The pages in the chapters
about the search and recovery efforts are a different color than
those about the building and sinking, which makes finding specific
information easier. The book has a table of contents, an index,
and a glossary that are also helpful in finding information.
There are photographs and drawings on almost every page. Each
one has a caption that describes it. There are photographs of the
recovery process and some of the artifacts found in the Hunley.
There are also drawings, reproductions of paintings, and maps.
Some of the most striking photographs are those of the recon-
structions of the faces of the crew members that were created
by forensic artist Sharon Long.
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine is a 112-page book filled with
many details and a lot of technical information. Ms. Walker does
not hesitate to use scientific terminology that may not be
familiar to readers, but she explains it and defines it in the
glossary. It is clear that she is fascinated by the Hunley and by
scientific research. In her author’s note, Walker says that as she
was conducting her research for this book, she felt a connected
to the builders and the crew of the Hunley and also to the
scientists and historians who are studying her now. Walker
makes sure that her readers feel that same connection by
including details about the crew and objects found inside the
submarine, and about the recovery process used. She includes
amazing facts as well. Here are just two examples. (1) After
the Hunley sunk the USS Housatonic, it was fifty years until a
submarine again sunk an enemy ship during World War I.
(2) Crewman George E. Dixon should have died at Shiloh on
April 6, 1862, but his life was saved when the bullet struck a
gold coin given to him by his sweetheart. That coin was found
in the Hunley.
This book is an interesting read and a valuable resource and
reference for anyone interested in history or archaeology.
4. Review Excerpts
Booklist: “Thoroughly researched, nicely designed, and well
illustrated with clear, color photos, the book will serve as an
informative guide to anyone interested in the Hunley or intrigued
by archaeology.” — Carolyn Phelan
School Library Journal: “This is a finely crafted account of the
Hunley from its inception to the modern archaeological quest
to exhume her from the water…. The archaeological process is
well documented in both words and pictures, and the conclusions
are interesting and even surprising. Highly recommended for
school and public libraries.”--Anna M. Nelson
VOYA: "Walker skillfully combines history, science, and storytelling
in clear and accessible writing that will appeal to middle school
students as well as older readers. . . Abundant photographs and
illustrations are attractive and informative, and the layout is clean
and attention grabbing. . . Walker lets readers know the people
behind the facts . . . the Hunley is fascinating and should captivate
readers looking to savor a real-life historical mystery."
5. Connections
This book could be used in conjunction with a study of the Civil War
or of archaeology.
In an art class, students could recreate the molds made of the
crew.
Students could write letters or journal entries from the crew
members.
Other books about archaeology and the Hunley:
Archaeology for Kids: Uncovering the Mysteries of Our Past by
Richard Panchyk. ISBN 978-1-556-52395-3
for LS5603.20, Genre 4—nonfiction.
1. Bibliography
Walker, Sally M. 2005. Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving
the Mysteries of the H. L. Hunley. Ill. by Laura Westlund.
Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books. ISBN 1-57505-830-8
2. Plot Summary
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine is the story of the first submarine
ever to sink an enemy ship. The submarine was the H. L. Hunley,
and she was built for the Confederate navy in 1863. This book is
divided into two sections. The first four chapters describe how and
why the Hunley was built, her mission, and the disaster that sunk
her. There is also a description of how a submarine works. The
second section of the book is about the archaeological efforts to
locate and raise the Hunley and find and interpret the artifacts
found inside her.
3. Critical Analysis
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine won several major awards when
it was published, including the Robert F. Sibert Award, ALA Notable
Book, Booklist Top 10 Sci-Tech Books for Youth, International
Reading Association Teacher’s Choice, and Orbis Pictus Recom-
mended Title. Such awards are a good indication that the infor-
mation in the book is accurate. Ms. Walker has won awards for
another one of her other books as well.
Secrets is organized chronologically, beginning with the building
of the Hunley during the Civil War and ending in 2004 with the
burial of the remains of her crew. The pages in the chapters
about the search and recovery efforts are a different color than
those about the building and sinking, which makes finding specific
information easier. The book has a table of contents, an index,
and a glossary that are also helpful in finding information.
There are photographs and drawings on almost every page. Each
one has a caption that describes it. There are photographs of the
recovery process and some of the artifacts found in the Hunley.
There are also drawings, reproductions of paintings, and maps.
Some of the most striking photographs are those of the recon-
structions of the faces of the crew members that were created
by forensic artist Sharon Long.
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine is a 112-page book filled with
many details and a lot of technical information. Ms. Walker does
not hesitate to use scientific terminology that may not be
familiar to readers, but she explains it and defines it in the
glossary. It is clear that she is fascinated by the Hunley and by
scientific research. In her author’s note, Walker says that as she
was conducting her research for this book, she felt a connected
to the builders and the crew of the Hunley and also to the
scientists and historians who are studying her now. Walker
makes sure that her readers feel that same connection by
including details about the crew and objects found inside the
submarine, and about the recovery process used. She includes
amazing facts as well. Here are just two examples. (1) After
the Hunley sunk the USS Housatonic, it was fifty years until a
submarine again sunk an enemy ship during World War I.
(2) Crewman George E. Dixon should have died at Shiloh on
April 6, 1862, but his life was saved when the bullet struck a
gold coin given to him by his sweetheart. That coin was found
in the Hunley.
This book is an interesting read and a valuable resource and
reference for anyone interested in history or archaeology.
4. Review Excerpts
Booklist: “Thoroughly researched, nicely designed, and well
illustrated with clear, color photos, the book will serve as an
informative guide to anyone interested in the Hunley or intrigued
by archaeology.” — Carolyn Phelan
School Library Journal: “This is a finely crafted account of the
Hunley from its inception to the modern archaeological quest
to exhume her from the water…. The archaeological process is
well documented in both words and pictures, and the conclusions
are interesting and even surprising. Highly recommended for
school and public libraries.”--Anna M. Nelson
VOYA: "Walker skillfully combines history, science, and storytelling
in clear and accessible writing that will appeal to middle school
students as well as older readers. . . Abundant photographs and
illustrations are attractive and informative, and the layout is clean
and attention grabbing. . . Walker lets readers know the people
behind the facts . . . the Hunley is fascinating and should captivate
readers looking to savor a real-life historical mystery."
5. Connections
This book could be used in conjunction with a study of the Civil War
or of archaeology.
In an art class, students could recreate the molds made of the
crew.
Students could write letters or journal entries from the crew
members.
Other books about archaeology and the Hunley:
Archaeology for Kids: Uncovering the Mysteries of Our Past by
Richard Panchyk. ISBN 978-1-556-52395-3
Archaeologists Dig for Clues by Kate Duke. ISBN 978-0-064-45175-8
The Magic School Bus Shows and Tells: a Book About Archaeology
by Joanna Cole. ISBN 978-0-590-92242-5
Eyewitness: Archaeology by Jane McIntosh. ISBN 978-0-789-45864-3
Finding the Titanic by Robert D. Ballard. ISBN 978-0-590-47230-2
Exploring the Titanic by Robert D. Ballard. ISBN 978-0-590-41952-9
Shipwreck Search: Discovery of the H. L. Hunley by Sally M. Walker.
ISBN 978-0-822-56449-2
The Story of the H. L. Hunley and Queenie’s Coin by Fran Hawk.
ISBN 978-1-585-36218-9
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