Across Five Aprils

Across Five Aprils

Irene Hunt

Historical novel

Pages  114/212

 

Describe

The next morning, Matt looks tired because he couldn’t sleep. He wakes up early and Ellen prepares breakfast that neither of them wanted. Matt tries to find the man who attacked Jethro in the forest and thank Dave Burdow for helping Jethro, but he gets a heart attack while leaving and Ellen hears it and finds him lying on the ground. He was luckily revived by the doctor but he became rather fragile and weak unlike the normal Matt Creighton.

Since Jethro’s father is unable to work, Jethro takes on the responsibility and works on the field with Jenny. Jethro learned the responsibility of a man and learned labor from dawn till sunset and worked his best. One day, Ed Turner visited the Creightons on the way from town to his home. Ed Turner tells Jethro that Grant’s army was surprise attacked. They talk about how the Union calls every battle a victory unless they lose to the rebs and about Grant is sinking in the rank.

Jethro and Jenny become closer while working in the fields together for a long time. But Jethro soon gets angry at Jenny for not letting the rest of the family read the letter from Shadrach. Jethro dissipates the anger for a while. Then Nancy and her children visits Jethro with a supper while he was on the fields.  Nancy grew intimate with Jethro since their encounter was more often. Nancy talks about John’s training and her anxiety. When Jethro tries to leave, she stops him and tells him not to be mad at Jenny because some letters are meant only for one person. The following night, Jenny comes into Jethro’s bed at night when Jethro screamed because of nightmare and comforts him. Then she says that she will let Jethro read Shadrach’s letters and tries to make up but Jethro refuses and forgives her.

Reflect

I like how the war causes conflicts between characters instead of a character. I am curious about the outcome of the war and how the conflict between the Creightons will resolve.

Passage

Matt did not sleep the night after Jethro’s return from Newton; and the next morning he was up at dawn moving aimlessly about the abin and out around the dooryard and woodlot.

This part is not really emphasized in the story but I think this is an important passage that provides information about how Jethro’s parents were anxious while he was on the trip and even after.