Clapp recounts that the history taught in grade school was "always just text." There were "no words" or personal feelings— such as fear, joy, or sadness. Thus, the author relies on the journal or diary as a literary device for Constance and The Tamarack Tree. The first-person account provides an immediacy and relevancy to the reader, and proves much more interesting than a history textbook.

Clapp presents important characters and events of the Civil War—Abraham Lincoln and General Grant—by mentioning articles that appeared in newspapers of the day, such as the Citizen. Incorporating news reports allows the reader to discover these events as Rosemary does. Thus, the author avoids writing a textbook history of the war and siege of Vicksburg.

Clapp believes writing historical fiction allows "history to speak for itself." As a woman of the theater, the spoken word&mdash...