''Charley Skedaddle'' is a

children's fiction Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. Modern children's literature is classified in two different ways: genre or the intended age of the reader. Children's ...

book by

Patricia Beatty Patricia Beatty, (13 May 1936 – 20 November 2020) was a Canadian choreographer, dancer, director and teacher. Early life and education Patricia Beatty was born in Toronto. She studied modern dance at Bennington College in Bennington, Ver ...

. The book was first released in 1987 through ''Troll Associates'', later winning the 1988 ''

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction is an annual American children's book award that recognizes historical fiction. It was established in 1982 by Scott O'Dell, author of ''Island of the Blue Dolphins'' and 25 other children's books, in ho ...

''. ''Charley Skedaddle'' is based on true

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

records.

Synopsis

The book follows Charley, a twelve-year-old boy who runs errands for the leader of the Bowery Boys. Then he decides to leave home after joining the Bowery Boys gang and causing trouble. All Charley wants is to be like his older brother Johnny, who was killed during the

Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In the battle, Union Major General George Meade's Army of the Po ...

, so he leaves behind his gang life to join the 140th Regiment. He is initially eager to fight, but flees shortly after shooting a

Rebel A rebel is a participant in a rebellion. Rebel or rebels may also refer to: People * Rebel (given name) * Rebel (surname) * Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution * American Southerners, as a form of self-identification; s ...

soldier. Ashamed, Charley keeps running and is captured by an enemy soldier but later flees again after gaining a chance to escape. He keeps running until he reaches the

Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. The mountain range is located in the Eastern United States, and extends 550 miles southwest from southern Pennsylvania through Maryland, West Virgin ...

, where he lives with Granny Bent, an elderly mountain woman who calls herself a "doctor-woman". Charley learns much from her and gains a new sense of maturity and self-respect. He is inevitably forced to flee again but with the knowledge that what he has gained from his time in the mountains will go with him.

Reception

Reception for ''Charley Skedaddle'' was positive, with the book receiving the 1988 ''Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction''. The book is utilized in many classrooms, with teachers using it to help inform students about the American Civil War.

References

{{reflist, 2 Children's historical novels Novels set during the American Civil War 1987 American novels American children's novels 1987 children's books