The eighth grade students have formed book groups and are currently reading Civil War novels The Red Badge of Courage and Across Five Aprils in conjunction with our study of the Civil War. The book groups allow for more in-depth discussions regarding events of the Civil War and the effect it had on the characters in the books. We are focusing on the theme that war changes individuals, families, communities and countries. In addition to reading these novels, students have also been exposed to primary source documents, short stories and poetry regarding the Civil War.