Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of 

Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero 

by Marissa Moss

Summary: A story of a nineteen-year-old woman who disguised herself as a man to avoid an unwanted marriage and who distinguished herself as a male nurse during the Civil War, and later as a spy for the Union Army.

This is an amazing true story! This book is lengthy, and most ideal for older elementary students to read to themselves. I was impressed by the author’s and illustrator’s note on one of the last pages. A teacher could use this book to open a lesson on the civil war. Also, this story is great for reading aloud before a student research project on the civil war or women’s history.

Interest Level: grades k-6

Reading Level: grade 5