Across Five Aprils

This article is about the novel. For the band, see Across Five Aprils (band).

Across Five Aprils

First edition
Author	Irene Hunt
Illustrator	Albert John Pucci
Language	English
Genre	Historical novel
Publisher	Follett
Publication date	1964[1]
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	188
ISBN	978-0-425-10241-1

Across Five Aprils is a novel by Irene Hunt, published in 1964 and winner of a 1965 Newbery Honor, set in the Civil War era.[2][3] Hunt was close to her grandfather who told her stories from his youth, which she incorporated into Across Five Aprils.[4]

Background

Hunt published her first book, Across Five Aprils, at age 57.[5] She researched the historical facts and integrated stories that were told to her by her grandfather. The Creighton family was documented in those stories and in letters and records. Like Jethro, the book's protagonist, her grandfather was only nine when the Civil War erupted, so Hunt used him as a vehicle through which to imagine what a family must have gone through at that time.[6]

Plot Summary

Across Five Aprils tells the tale of the Creighton family, inspired by the author's own family. Centered on the Creighton farm in Jasper County, Illinois, the tale describes the experiences of youngest son Jethro and his family during the years of the Civil War.

Awards and nominations

• 1964 – the Charles W. Follett Award[7]
• 1965 – Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award (nominated),[8] the Clara Ingram Judson Memorial Award,[9] Newbery Honor Book[3]
• 1966 – Lewis Carroll Shelf Award
• 1997 – Charles W. D. W. Award

Screen adaptation

The novel was adapted to screen in 1990 by Kevin Meyer and starred Todd Duffey and Miriam Byrd-Nethery.[10]

References

1. "Otto Bib". Retrieved 2008-03-12. Otto Bib.com entry for ISBN 978-0-425-10241-1
2. Great authors of children's books. Nagle, Jeanne,, Garvey, Brian. New York. January 2014. ISBN 9781622750979. OCLC 882262191.
3. admin (1999-11-30). "Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922-Present". Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). Retrieved 2019-03-26.
4. The Oxford encyclopedia of children's literature. Zipes, Jack, 1937–. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2006. ISBN 0195146565. OCLC 62342788.
5. "Bookology Magazine Context". bookologymagazine.com. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
6. "SparkNotes: Across Five Aprils: Context". m.sparknotes.com. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
7. "Across Five Aprils Irene Hunt 1964". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
8. "Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award | Department of Libraries". libraries.vermont.gov. Archived from the original on 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
9. "Society of Midland Authors Prior Award Winners". midlandauthors.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
10. Across Five Aprils, retrieved 2019-03-26