As the Civil War rages another battle breaks out behind the lines. During along hot July in 1863 the worst race riots the United States has ever seenerupt in Ne... » 

As the Civil War rages another battle breaks out behind the lines. During along hot July in 1863 the worst race riots the United States has ever seenerupt in New York City. Earlier that year desperate for more Union soldiersPresident Abraham Lincoln instituted a drafta draft that would allow thewealthy to escape serving in the army by paying a 300 waiver more than ayears income for the recent immigrant Irish. And on July 11 as the firstdrawing takes place in Lower Manhattan the city of New York explodes in rageand fire. Stores are looted buildings including the Colored Foundling Homeare burned down and black Americans are attacked beaten and murdered. Thepolice cannot hold out against the rioters and finally battlehardenedsoldiers are ordered back from the fields of Gettysburg to put down theinsurrection which they dobrutally. Fifteenyearold Claire the beloveddaughter of a black father and Irish mother finds herself torn between the twowarring sides. Faced with the breakdown of the citythe homeshe has lovedClaire must discover the strength and resilience to address the new world inwhich she finds herself and to begin the hard journey of remaking herself andher identity. Addressing such issues as race bigotry and class headonWalter Dean Myers has written another stirring and exciting novel that willshake up assumptions and lift the spirit. «