William P. Robertson: Press

On HAYFOOT, STRAWFOOT: THE BUCKTAIL RECRUITS:

"From our first introduction to a young Indian boy's survival, we are drawn to the courage evinced by Bucky and his abiding friendship with his opposite, the minister's son. This book is well-researched creative nonfiction that will delight the reader in its understanding of true friendship and what it was like to live and grow up quickly in Civil War times.

On THE BUCKTAILS' SHENANDOAH MARCH

"Entertaining fiction...historical accuracy...the kind of work that will lead our younger generation to appreciate the sacrifices of the Civil War and create a desire to continue to preserve our history as they grow and mature. Bravo!"

On THE BATTLING BUCKTAILS AT FREDERICKSBURG

"The thing I really like about the Bucktail novel series is that the authors give a real sense of the day-to-day life of the Civil War without lecturing. It'll be an eye-opener for many kids to realize that it wasn't all fighting but lots of sitting around, eating lousy food, and pointless marches.

On THE BATTLING BUCKTAILS AT FREDERICKSBURG

"As an educator, I see the Bucktail novel series as an excellent teaching tool for middle school social studies. Not only is it readable (very important) and accurate, it also gives the student plenty of everyday details on how the people who fought the war lived...a highly useable and recommended resource."

On THE BUCKTAILS: PERILS ON THE PENINSULA:

"I highly recommend this book for all middle schoolers, even those reluctant readers."

"PERILS ON THE PENINSULA is outstanding historical fiction that's both informative and entertaining."

Poetry contains a strange paradox. Poems which frighten or chill the blood are rare and yet no other medium is so well equipped to deliver the icy stab of terror. And if words are daggers then William P. Robertson is an accomplished knifeman, a Spring-heel Jack of poets. To draw blood, to invoke a chill breeze, to call up charnel house images with a scant few words. Those are the things William P. Robertson does in this book. And he does it in so many ways. Some of his best poems are his shortest, like the soft whisper of the dead, caught on a graveyard wind, while in others he has his tongue firmly planted in his cheek as he conjures up the blackest of comedies with all the good humor of a lynching. But most of all, Robertson has the poet's power to wield words, his blood-red scalpel. To make you see something you don't want to, to view a banal object like a tree as an object of horror while a crypt will appear merely beautiful."

The authors' passion and technical expertise shows throughout the Bucktail series. William P. Robertson is himself a Civil War buff and re-enactor, and his enthusiasm shows through his writing and photographs. Robertson does most of his own photography and there are several great photos of fellow re-enactors, which bring the books and time period to life.

On THE BUCKTAILS AT THE DEVIL'S DEN: The opening of the book is fantastic--I was intrigued by the story from the beginning. I thought the accents and historical details were very effective in evoking the world of the Civil War, while, at the same time, they did not hold back the plot. It's an adventurous and inspirational story, and also an interesting personal spin on the Civil War. I thought the pictures were used to good effect throughout the text. This could be one of those few and far between books that young boys could read for pleasure.

On AMBUSH IN THE ALLEGHENIES

I find the book to be well researched and a must read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction and action-oriented prose.