Shades of Gray (Reeder novel)

Shades of Gray is a 1989 novel by Carolyn Reeder about a boy named Will. At the end of the American Civil War, twelve-year-old Will, an orphan, is left to live with his aunt and uncle. He considers his uncle a traitor and a coward because he refuses to be a Confederate and take any part in the war at all. Gradually, Will learns the true meaning of courage.

Awards

 * 1989 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
 * ALA Notable Children's Book
 * 1990 Jefferson Cup Award by the Virginia Library Association