The Home Guard

Set during the tumultuous years of the Civil War, this coming-of-age story follows 12-year-old Carter Barnwell and his grandmother as they navigate survival and adversity in wartime South Carolina. Amid personal and societal upheaval—including family separations, looting, and military conflicts—Carter grapples with his responsibilities, emerging sexuality, and moral choices. His encounter with an abolitionist missionary offers a new perspective, challenging his loyalties and shaping his understanding of his world.