A thirteen-year old boy lies about his age to join the Union forces during America's bloodiest war. No matter what happens, a drummer boy in the Civil War must keep playing his drum to relay orders and rally spirits. He doesn't fight, but he sees it all: from the glow of the camp fire to the glare of battle, the drummer boy watches the friendships that war creates and then breaks apart. Ann Turner's powerful text and Mark Hess's stunning artwork reveal the drama and heartache of the Civil War as seen through the eyes of a boy not too young to be a hero.