Love, D. Anne. Three Against the Tide. Holiday House, 1998. ISBN 0-8234-1400-0. $15.95. 162 pp. A 4-6 FI Reviewed by Annette Van Wagenen This fast-paced, gripping tale of a family torn apart by the Civil War is a page-turner. The war has already started as the story unfolds. Papa (Doc Simmons) has been asked by General Lee to be a spy for the Confederate army. Although hesitant to leave his three motherless children at their beautiful Terrapin Island home, he accepts the assignment. His children should be safe on their Oakwood Plantation with neighbors and slaves to take care of them, or so he thinks. Papa assures everyone that he is needed in Southern hospitals to aid the wounded. Only twelve-year-old Susanna knows his true, dangerous mission. When the Yankees arrive on the island, the children, neighbors, and friends must flee for their safety. Susanna takes her two younger brothers and heads down the river in a small boat. Many mishaps befall them as they make their way to a home they own in Charleston. For weeks, Susanna waits for word of her father’s whereabouts while trying to stave off starvation and loneliness. Determination rides with Susanna as she searches for information about Papa. This excellent story shows the struggles of survival in our country’s most devastating war. It gives young readers a glimpse into the lives of children affected by combat, yet it also gives hope as young Susanna realizes that sometimes, instead of going with the flow, it is necessary to go against the tide.
