Two Little Confederates

"Two Little Confederates" by Thomas Nelson Page is a historical fiction novel for young readers that shows the lives of Frank and Willy, two boys growing up on a Virginia plantation during the American Civil War. The story follows their adventures and coming-of-age, set against the backdrop of a nation divided, as they attempt to understand the conflict and its impact on their home and family, oscillating between youthful games and the serious realities of wartime. The boys' initial excitement, mixed with confusion about the war, gradually shifts as they witness their loved ones leaving to fight, marking a transition from innocence to a more mature understanding of the world around them. Their home, Oakland, once a place of carefree play, becomes a focal point as the war changes their lives and relationships.