Coal City Middle School eighth grade students have just finished reading their second novel of the year in social studies class. The students are reading Soldier’s Heart by Gary Paulsen. The story begins in Minnesota in June of 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War. It follows Charley Goddard’s journey as he enlists into the Union Army and heads to the battlefield. Goddard leaves for war at the age of 15 excited for the adventure of war, but will return home four years later a changed man. Soldier’s Heart allows students to make connections to battles and hardships faced by soldiers during the Civil War.