Hattie's War

Hattie's War

This book perfectly blends personal history and fiction that will keep you hooked from start to finish... a must-read for anyone who loves a good story of ambition, rebellion, and the power of perseverance. - The Midwest Book Review What if the secrets of the past held the keys to your future? Set against the backdrop of post-Civil War America, Hattie's War is a touching exploration of identity, resilience, and the indomitable spirit of a young woman determined to forge her own path. Haunted by the legacy of a father she never knew, a Union soldier lost to the war before her birth, Hattie longs to know her father and his reasons for leaving his family. With the unexpected death of her sister, Hattie descends into a debilitating depression she calls Raven. Whispers of an insane asylum send her into a panic. Desperate and terrified, her best friend orchestrates a secret meeting with a fortune-teller whose cryptic prophecy sets Hattie on a journey of discovery and healing. Hattie’s War is a tale that transcends time. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, the enduring power of love, and the unbreakable bond between generations. Rooted in the author's family history, it invites readers to journey through a past that echoes into the present, discovering with Hattie the unyielding strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity and proving that sometimes, the most transformative battles are the ones fought within ourselves. A sentimental and satisfying tale about a teen in post-Civil War America. - Kirkus Reviews This intriguing story introduces readers to the American Civil War from the perspective of some of the people who were left behind. Members of the author's own family form the foundation of the novel, and new life is breathed into them through their dialogue and interactions. Though fictional in nature, true historical events and characters are embedded within the narrative, making Hattie's experience feel ever more real to a contemporary audience. ... Accessible and educational, this is a noteworthy historical fiction novel for middle grade readers. - Mary Lanni Reedsy Discovery Hattie's War takes you on a fascinating journey as Hattie defies the odds and fights for what she believes in, all while navigating the challenges of her time. Peter Serko has ingeniously weaved his great-great-grandmother's own story. This book perfectly blends personal history and fiction that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Through meticulous research and attention to historical detail, Serko has brought Hattie's world to life, making the reader feel like they are alongside her. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story of ambition, rebellion, and the power of perseverance. - Midwest Book Review I was sixteen years old in 1970 when our family visited Gettysburg National Military Park in southeastern Pennsylvania. During the four-hour drive, my mother mentioned a relative fought and died at Gettysburg. But, unfortunately, all she knew was his last name: Howell. Howell? That was the first time I'd heard Howell mentioned as a family name. I was surprised that the Gettysburg battlefield didn't match the picture of the heroic three-day battle I'd created in my imagination. Grassy meadows bordered paved roads named for Union generals. Fields of waist-high corn, overgrown thickets, and woodlands made it appear like any other country setting in the rural northeast. Only polished stone monuments stood as evidence of the unimaginable horrors of those killing fields. I looked at every memorial and gravestone we passed for the name Howell. It turns out quite a few Howells fought and died at Gettysburg. The idea that a member of my family—even one I'd never known—fought and died on that hallowed ground stuck with me. Fast forward to 2010. I was visiting my parents in upstate New York and noticed a tattered cardboard box under the window in my bedroom. A quick look inside revealed dozens of small books of varying sizes, a photo album, and two musty scrapbooks filled with newspaper clippings. The box's contents belonged to my great-grandmother Maude Murphy Phelps. The books were her diaries. My mother had gotten the box from her cousin with me in mind. Maude and her husband Earl were farmers raising primarily table grapes in Hector, New York. Her diary entries, dating from 1910 to 1974, were short and to the point, with never a mention of anything personal. The day I was born in 1954, she wrote: "Nancy Lou (my mother) had a baby boy. They named him Peter James." As I said, always short and to the point. The diaries offered a glimpse into the everyday life of a farm family. Then, curious to find out more about my family, I opened an Ancestry(dot com) account and dove into my family's history. Soon I had a family tree filled with names I had never heard of dating back to the 1600s. Here is some of what I discovered: Hannibal Howell is my third great-grandfather