The Tamarack Tree

by Patricia Clapp

Book Overview

Orphaned at thirteen, Rosemary Leigh was transplanted from England to Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1859. Four years later, to distract her from her fear as cannonballs batter the besieged city, Rosemary writes about what she has been through. While she has been growing up, enjoying the social pleasures of a Southern young lady, the tensions between North and South have developed into civil war. Because she is English, Rosemary brings an outsider's perspective...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688028527
• ISBN13: 9780688028527
• Release Date: September 1986
• Publisher: Harper Teen
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

THIS ONE IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE!

Yes, my title is true! I was SO sorry to put this book down for good! It was so wonderful!! Well, anyways, you probably want to know what it's about, so here it goes: Rosemary Leigh has just had her mother die, leaving her and her brother Dereck as orphans. So, they set of from their home in England, to the little town of Vicksburg, in America. Well, at first, Rosemary's life is wonderful: meeting new and wonderful people, and taking care of her own little house that she keeps for her brother. The only problem is, that not long after this happiness, the seige uncovers. Her house is bombed by Yankee shells. She and her brother and her friend Mary Byrd work in the hospitals. There is little or no food. When she moves into an abandoned mansion with her brother (because they couldn't live in their bombed house), another bombing happens. She is with Mary Byrd, and for a few hours is trapped in an underground slave tunnel before being rescued. The book is filled with ADVENTURE, suspense, and romance too! Ah, yes, perfect. This is, I repeat, one of my VERY FAVORITE books in the ENTIRE WORLD! I'll bet it'd be one of yours too, if you'd read it, so do!!

The Tamarack Tree The Review

The Tamarack Tree is about a girl named Rosemaryand her big brother Derek who move to Vicksburg. Little dothey know the Cival War is coming straight towards their little town of Vicksburg. Will Rosemary get out of town alive? Will the war destroy the town of Vicksburg and everywhone in it? Read the book to find out. I recommend this book because it is very suspense full and action pact. Also, it's great because it gives you a feeling your in the civil war and it's very dicriptive. I think the characterization was great to.

A wonderful story of survival!

I decided to read 'The Tamarack Tree' because it was written by Patricia Clapp, the author of 'Constance'; my very favorite book in the world. Patricia Clapp did not let me down! I absolutely loved 'The Tamarack Tree'! Charming characters, realistic details, and an interesting historical setting made this book good to the very last drop. It tells the story of Rosemary Leigh, who moves to Vicksburg, Mississippi from London, England with her older brother, Derek, after the death of their mother. In Mississippi, and the rest of the Deep South, it is a time of wealthy cotton plantations, lazy hours spent relaxing in the heat of the afternoon, parties, and storybook life of contentment. All this changes, however, with the start of the Civil War. Rosemary herself believes that slavery is wrong, but has a great deal of loyalty and love for the gentle Southerners who befriended her and welcomed her into their society. The war seems distant and almost unreal to Rosemarie until it comes directly to Vicksburg. Confederate troops settle on the Mississippi River and the Siege of Vicksburg begins. Amidst starvation, death, fear, and the constant, 24-hour threat of raging Northern bullets, Rosemarie tries her very best to remain calm and brave. She manages to prove herself as a confident and capable young woman throughout the siege that lasts for 47 days during the spring of 1863. As the war finally leaves Vicksburg Rosemarie has learned a number of valuable lessons, survived more than she ever thought she could, and has a better understanding of herself and life.

Tamarack in depth

This book was touching. This book was a great example of what was happening at this time. Patricia was so discreptive that is what made the book so intresting. I would read this book over and over agian. I love the way she made the people come alive in your mind when you read it. If you are looking for a good civil war book this is it.T.V

Brilliant piece of historical fiction for young people.

This book is one of the best novels I read as a child. It is a brilliant choice for any young reader who is fascinated by history. The story vividly portrays life under siege in the city of Vicksburg through the eyes of a young woman, and brings to life the conflict between your friends and your principles when the two do not agree. Although I am now a Yale undergraduate, this is a book I would still pick up and re-read. If you have a child interested in historical fiction, especially a young woman, this is a stunning book to buy!