Everything you need to understand or teach The Shadow Riders by Louis L'Amour.
Building on the theme of the importance of the family, L'Amour tries to show that the caring of a family can spread outward to the community.
When little Susan Atherton's mother, for example, is captured by rebel slave traders, the Travens take Susan with them and leave her in the care of their neighbor Maddy Wyatt who lovingly welcomes the girl.
Another important theme, a natural to a Civil War story, is slavery...