The Curse of the Buttons

By Anne Ylvisaker

Subjects: Adventure and adventurers, fiction, Historical fiction, River boats, Iowa, fiction, Fiction, Children's fiction, Civil War, 1861-1865, Juvenile fiction, City and town life, Family, fiction, History, Family life, Civil war

Description: When a steamboat arrives heralding the news that Iowa has been called up to represent the Union of the United States of America, Ike is beside himself with excitement. For months, the promise of war has enveloped small-town Keokuk like a grand game that everyone's in on - everyone but Ike, his swaybacked pony, and his best friend and checkers partner, Albirdie. Left behind with Mother and the aunts and girl cousins while the Button men march forth toward glory, Ike's fate is sealed.