(4) 4-6 In My Own Words series. Illustrated by Laszlo Kubinyi. These abridged memoirs record the lives of ordinary people during historic times. Watkins's and Stewart's vivid personalities make those volumes particularly enjoyable, but all four offer an engaging history lesson (despite the offputting textbook-like covers and illustrations). Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these In My Own Words titles: The Diary of Sam Watkins, a Confederate Soldier; The Letters of Elinore Pruitt Stewart, Woman Homesteader; The Diary of Susie King Taylor, Civil War Nurse; and The Diary of Elizabeth Bacon Custer.]

Reviewer: Becky Levine