Soldier Girl Blue

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S&H Publishing

High Quality Fiction for the Contemporary Woman

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A young Canadian woman escapes her abusive father by disguising herself as a man and seeking refuge in the United States, a country about to be torn apart by civil war. Though able to claim neutrality as a foreigner, she finds it impossible to turn her back on an enslaved people and risks everything to continue her masquerade and join the fight to free them. As a Union soldier, she learns that neither the constant fear of being unmasked nor the danger she faces under fire can compare to the unrelenting peril she must endure as a spy behind Confederate lines. But when her lover is captured and imprisoned, she learns that love can drive her to take even greater risks.

From the Author

As a native of New England, I, like many Americans, have 19th century family members who fought on both sides of the Civil War, including my paternal great-great-grandfather who served with Company E, 6th Massachusetts Militia Infantry. Another of my great-great-grandfathers was a "Bluenose" sea captain from Windsor, Nova Scotia. As I have Canadian progenitors, I began researching Canadian involvement in the Civil War after several trips to the Gettysburg National Battlefield in Pennsylvania. It was during the research that I came across the story of Sarah Emma Edmonds. I was quite surprised that she had disguised herself as a man in order to fight for the Union. Even more astounding was that Edmonds was one of 400-550 women who did so AND she was a foreigner, one of between 40,000-55,000 Canadians who joined the fight.

Given that I'd been studying the war for some time, yet wasn't aware of the role 'distaff soldiers' or Canadians had played in the conflict, it was clear to me that I wasn't alone. I felt compelled to write the book in order to honor Edmonds and the women like her as well as the Canadians who came south to help shape our history.

Soldier Girl Blue Reviewed

If you're a fan of Civil War fiction with drama, suspense, an engaging plot, and an interesting historical twist, Soldier Girl Blue by J. J. Knights is for you. Inspired by the true story of a young woman who escaped an arranged marriage by fleeing to the United States, disguising herself as a man, and serving in the army during the Civil War, it recounts the fictional story of Emily who does just that. Pretending to be a young man, she serves as a corporal and battlefield nurse on the Union side. The complication of a secret romance with a fellow Canadian, and the introduction of a brutal antagonist who crosses her path more than once and has revenge in his eyes add to the unfolding drama.

I enjoyed reading Soldier Girl Blue. In Emily, Knights presents a heroine of great courage, conviction, passion, and ability: an ordinary young woman who willingly marches into an extraordinary situation and places herself in harm's way. The narrative is well paced, flowing, descriptive, and suspenseful. Emily's series of adventures, set against the historical background of bloody battlefields and well-disguised espionage, introduces a wide spectrum of secondary characters from both sides of the conflict. I especially liked the portrayal of several former slaves whose intelligence, courage, and loyalty prove invaluable to Emily's survival. In recounting Emily's story, Knights offers a tribute to Canadians who made the journey south to join a war that wasn't theirs, and to women who served in non-traditional roles as combatants and spies. An entertaining and educational read.

Kimberlee J Benart, Readers' Favorite

5 stars

James Knights (Author)

James Knights is a retired FBI Special Agent. He received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an M.A. from the University of Chicago. A native of New England, one of his great-great-grandfathers served during the Civil War with Company E, 6th Massachusetts Militia Infantry, while another was a “Bluenose” sea captain from Windsor, Nova Scotia. He and his wife own a seaside cottage on Prince Edward Island, Canada. He has authored several published articles on law enforcement recruiting, including one on the valuable role of women as investigators. He recently made his film debut as an extra in "You Are My Friend," starring Tom Hanks and Matthew Ryhs.

Soldier Girl Blue is his fourth novel.

Finalist in the Young Adult - Social Issues category of the Readers' Favorite 2017 International Book Award Contest for "Benjamin's Field: Ascent"

Learn more about James Knights.