The Cruisers (2012) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 3 stars

“As a school starts a unit on the civil war, students split up into two opposing fractions and it is up to a group of friends to negotiate a peace between the fractions. I was really excited about this book and thought that this would become the perfect read-aloud for one of our units of inquiry ("People & Power"). After reading the entire book I don't think it will get students too excited. It's a good read but not necessarily one that will hold the attention of less engaged students.”

• Rated 3 stars

“This is a great book for social studies teachers or parents who home school in order to teach middle school students about the Civil War. I love this author, and he has done an amazing job of making a topic that is usually boring to teens very relevant and exciting for them. I am afraid, however, that outside of teaching about the Civil War I don't think this book will have much appeal in the overall world of YA literature. No matter how it is delivered the Civil War still only has so much appeal for young adults. But I am sure that they would prefer to read this book than a social studies text, and teachers may even get ideas about how to do classroom simulations that bring history to life. Myers has so many talents that I am once again floored by his ability to go where no writer has gone before.”