Amelia– main character, twelve/thirteen, middle child, feels responsible for Mr. Dechart’s arrest, Grafton is her last name, brings Josh food, lives in Maryland and is for the Union, she is the narrator

Aunt Lou– freed slave, good cook, works for the Graftons as hired help, -She is leaving for Philadelphia with Daddy where she will be safer, not really A’s aunt

Lutie (Mary Louise) Kealhofer– "Snooty Lutie," -She is the belle of Hagerstown, Confederate, big flirt! She is engaged to be married, 21, wealthy

Aunt Charlotte– she is a huckster who sells vegetables and flowers, Confederate sympathizer

Grandma Schuyler– part of the Abolitionist movement, Philadelphia, Amelia’s maternal grandmother

Hagerstown Mail –newspaper run by the Decharts, Josh lives in the abandoned office, destroyed by angry Union mob

The Jones Boys(Travis and Cole)–boys who Mrs. G. feels are a bad influence on Wes, 15 & 16, drive Mr. G and Aunt Lou to Philadelphia

Colonel McCausland –Josh’s uncle, an officer for the Confederate army

Mrs. Carmody –the Graftons’ laundry/washer woman who comes on Monday

Mrs. Leigh Grafton– Amelia’s mom, values her great grandmother’s silver tea set, she is in charge while Mr. G. is away

Mr. Wes Grafton –Amelia’s dad, runs the general store in Hagerstown, has left for Philadelphia, staunch/strong Union man and a town official

Jinny Pearl Beale –Wes’s sweetheart, likes to fire her revolver

Judge Alvey– taking care of Josh, but later is arrested for favoring the Confederacy

Mr. Dechart– arrested for Southern leanings, ran the Hagerstown Mail

Josh Dechart– twelve/thirteen, living alone in the abandoned newspaper office, very smart, includes females in "things"

Sky (Schuyler) –Amelia’s little brother, obsessed with war, 10

Wes– angry that Daddy has left, wishes he could fight in the war, Amelia’s older brother, 16

Joan of Arc- Jinny Pearl’s heroine

When/why did the war become a reality to Amelia?

What happens after leaving Mrs. Gruber’s? (Discuss Amelia’s actions, Mama’s feelings, and Mr. Dechart’s actions.)

After leaving Mrs. Gruber’s, Mama wants to head home and stay put until the war ends. Amelia, on the other hand, wants to let the world know what happened to Dewitt and how unfair it was. Mr. Dechart is glad to write the story because it is unfavorable toward the Union supporters.

Why was it as if "a sacred covenant" was broken when the printing press was destroyed?

A covenant is an agreement or promise between two groups. Our country has freedom of the press and freedom of speech, and we don’t destroy property just because we don’t believe in what has been written.

Why were the Graftons packing up the general store?

The family is packing up supplies so the soldiers won’t take them if they come into town. Mr. Grafton will take the supplies farther North to Philadelphia.

Why did Josh need old wallpaper?

All of the newsprint had been burned, and Josh wants to print on the back of the old wallpaper. He has heard that many papers down South are printing this way.

To what does Amelia compare the Confederates? Why? What type of figurative language is this?

Amelia compares the Confederates to fire ants because they are swarming around town and are dangerous. (Simile)

Explain the history of the silver tea set and why burying it would be "like burying the past" for Mrs. Grafton.

When Mrs. G’s great grandmother came over from England the ship was caught in a storm and landed in Maine. All the roads were steeped in mud and they had to lighten the load. Great grandmother refused to get rid of the silver set and instead got rid of her other belongings.

Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes Quiz: December 16th