49 pages • 1 hour read
Seymour ReitBehind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1988A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Introduction
Teacher Introduction
Behind Rebel Lines
- Genre: Fiction; young adult historical fiction
- Originally Published: 1988
- Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 830L; grades 5-10
- Structure/Length: 16 chapters and foreword; approximately 130 pages; approximately 2 hours, 25 minutes on audio
- Protagonist/Central Conflict: The protagonist is Emma Edmonds, a real-life figure from the Civil War era. The central conflict stems from Emma's decision to disguise herself as a man and serve as a Union spy during the Civil War. The story follows her courageous and risky endeavors, providing insights into the challenges and significance of her role in the war.
- Potential Sensitivity Issues: Wartime violence, death, and suffering; gender disguise and societal norms; espionage; historical conflict; use of racist slurs/language
Seymour Reit, Author
- Bio: Born 1918; died 2001; American author and cartoonist; known for his children's books and historical fiction; often combined historical facts with engaging narratives; a creator of the character Casper the Friendly Ghost; contributed to children's literature and comic book industry
- Other Works: Race Against Death: A True Story of the Far North (1976); The Day They Stole the Mona Lisa (1981); Guns for General Washington: A Story of the American Revolution (2001)
CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:
- What Women Can Really Do
- Appearance Determines Treatment
- The Need to Make a Difference
