HEARTS OF STONE
Dutton Children's Books
Children's Fiction Award
— Society of Midland Authors
"The prose is lively, the action dramatic. Historical details never overwhelm the story, and readers will be hooked from the start."
— Kirkus Reviews
"Lessons of endurance, survival, and fierce family love linger long after the story..."
— Children's Literature
The multiple award-winning novel is the tenth of Kathleen's twenty-five books. It is written for readers age 11 to adult who enjoy American Civil War historical fiction—without sex, gore, or explicit violence.
Story Description
With her father gone to join the Yankee troops and her best friend, Ben, sympathizing with the Confederates, fifteen year-old Hannah finds her world torn apart by the Civil War. Then her mother suddenly dies.
Now responsible for holding the young family together, Hannah makes the difficult decision to leave her beloved Cumberland Mountain with her brother and sisters and set out on the long and dangerous journey to Nashville, in search of their only living relative.
Their quest to reclaim their family leads them into the very heart of the American Civil War, and could cost them their lives.
Originally released as a 248-page hardcover (but currently out of print), it is now available as an electronic book that can be read on the iPad, Kobo, Nook, Sony, and Kindle.
What Others Are Saying
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Children's Fiction Award The Society of Midland Authors 2007 Since 1915 the Society has presented awards for excellence to authors and poets with strong ties to the American Midwest. more>> |
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Tofte/Wright Children's Literature Award Council for Wisconsin Writers 2006 The Council is a community of writers, poets and educators dedicated to recognizing oustanding work by Wisconsin authors. more>> |
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Editor's Choice Historical Novel Review Review by Eileen Charbonneau "Like an old-time ballad, Hearts of Stone transports readers into a lyrical, essential world brimming with life and spirit. It succeeds in that rarest of objectives – to both wrench and warm the heart. Highly recommended." more>> |
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Christian Library Journal Review by Sherri Myers "Hearts of Stone is a fantastic coming of age novel for young readers. Historically accurate and completely engaging, this dramatic book has won numerous awards. Kathleen Ernst used her knowledge and love of the Civil War era to write this remarkable novel, taking ten years to complete the task... Prejudice, hatred, forgiveness, and strong love for family combine to make Hearts of Stone a novel not soon forgotten." more>> |
About the Author
Bestselling author Kathleen Ernst writes award-winning mysteries and historical fiction for adults and young readers. Her work has earned numerous honors, including multiple Edgar and Agatha mystery award nominations, and an Emmy for children's educational programming.
To date, readers have purchased well over 750,000 audio, electronic, and printed copies of Kathleen's twenty-five books. more>>
Related Blog Posts
Enjoy the author's insights about the story, characters, and settings.
Hearts Of Stone - The Story Behind The Story |
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I’m often asked where my interest in the American Civil War comes from. Growing up in Maryland, I had lots of opportunities to visit Civil War battlefields. Since Maryland was a border state... more>> |
Reenacting For Writers |
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My husband, daughter Meg, and I reached Spring Hill, TN, in a driving rain. The temperature was dropping. The parking lot—a field intended to hold the vehicles of 10,000 or so Civil War reenactors and their gear—was a sea of mud... more>> |
Available From
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HARDCOVER |
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NOOK eBOOK HARDCOVER |
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KINDLE eBOOK |
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Find this book at libraries near you! SEARCH NOW |
Author's Note
I was involved in Civil War reenacting for many years. The inspiration for this book came from a wonderful event held at Spring Hill, Tennessee. There I participated with a group of reenactors who recreated a refugee camp. Our goal was to help visitors think about the many Southern people who became homeless during the terrible war years.
People often ask me to name my favorite among the books I've written. That's hard! But I must admit, Hearts of Stone has a special place in my heart—and based on letters and email I've received, it resonates with readers and reviewers too.
25 In 25 Giveaway
To celebrate the release of my 25th book, Traitor In The Shipyard: A Caroline Mystery, I'm thanking readers with a big 25 BOOKS IN 25 WEEKS GIVEAWAY.
In Week 2 of the giveaway three readers won signed, personalized, first-edition, hardcover copies of Hearts of Stone.
I'm announcing new giveaways almost every Sunday—and you could win! For details, visit my Facebook Author page or Sites and Stories blog.
Book Goodies
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PREVIEW Get a sneak peak inside this book CLICK TO DOWNLOAD |
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TEACHER'S GUIDE For teachers and homeschoolers COMING SOON |
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Keywords
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