49 pages 1 hour read

Seymour Reit

Behind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1988

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During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

FOREWORD-CHAPTER 5

Reading Check

1. What word does Reit use in the Foreword to describe Emma’s ideals “long before [it] became popular”?

2. How many volunteers does President Lincoln request?

3. What name does Emma adopt for her enlistment?

4. How is Emma “classed” in her regiment?

5. In her regiment, with whom does Emma share her secret ?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What unique action did Emma carry out during the Civil War? Was she alone in this action or were there others like her?

2. Why does Emma visit the courthouse in Flint? What is she determined to do, and what has she checked in order to make sure that she is successful?

3. What are some of the tasks that women are allowed to do to help the war cause? How do Emma’s aspirations differ from the traditional gender roles?

4. What is Emma’s daily routine in Virginia? How does this routine rapidly change?

5. Describe Emma’s plan to enter the Confederate army. How does she decide to change her appearance? What is the outcome of her plan?