Preview
  • Soldier's Heart

  • Being the Story of the Enlistment and Due Service of the Boy Charley Goddard in the First Minnesota Volunteers
  • By: Gary Paulsen
  • Narrated by: George Wendt
  • Length: 1 hr and 39 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (114 ratings)

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Soldier's Heart

By: Gary Paulsen
Narrated by: George Wendt
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Publisher's summary

Gary Paulsen introduces listeners to Charley Goddard in his latest novel, Soldier's Heart.

Charley goes to war a boy, and returns a changed man, crippled by what he has seen. In this captivating tale Paulsen vividly shows listeners the turmoil of war through one boy's eyes and one boy's heart, and gives a voice to all the anonymous young men who fought in the Civil War.

©2011 Gary Paulsen; 2012 Listening Library
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Critic reviews

"A stark, utterly persuasive novel of combat life in the Civil War that may well challenge generations of middle-school readers." (The New York Times)
"Paulsen's storytelling is so psychologically true that readers will feel they have lived through Charley's experience." ( Publishers Weekly)
"The nightmare of the Civil War comes to the pages in this novel from Paulsen...based on the real-life experiences of a young enlistee." ( Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about Soldier's Heart

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

too short

granted more detail isn't necessary to meet the authors goal, but the story kind of jumps from the battle damaged boy of 15 to 16 years old to an even more emotionally devastated 20 year old. For a young audience this might be sufficient but I don't feel it conveys a enough detail to fix the PTSD suffered.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

very good read

As a soldier i loved it. i could see the detail in the story. It gave me more respect for the men back then.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Into and Endnote add value

Short story, but disappointing in detail and plot length. Consider Rifles for Wattie instead of this one. also, the narration was painful.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

very sad informational book, with a great story.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Not all wounds are visible

"Soldier's Heart" was the term assigned to Civil War battle weary soldiers, and those who survived the horrors of war, only to relive such battles in nightmares and intrusive thoughts. 2,500 years previously Soldier's Heart was recognized in the Book of Job (22-32 NIV) and called "Mark of the Sword."

Not all wounds are visible, and the name for such wounds would be called by different names: WWI, Shell Shock; WWII and Korean War, Combat Fatigue; Vietnam War, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Like a "Rose by any other name" (Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet), Gary Paulsen's "Soldier's Heart" paints the Civil War battlefield's in the close up and personal savagery that can inflict a life-long invisible wound that truly changes a warrior.

Donald Poss

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great read

Loved it, somewhat graphic but quick, easy read that depicts the devastation of the Civil War perfectly

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Outline of a story

This book reads like the makings of a novel. It jumps from thing to thing and fails to connect the reader to Charlie.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The book was OK

I had to listen to this boom for my social studies class. I was expecting more of it. I am glad that it showed the real devastation of the Civil War.

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