I really really loved this.
First of all—it has the word "Rebel" in the title. Obviously it's going to be about a wild girl in the summer. Plus, it takes place in the South, which is an extra benefit.
I thought the Civil War diary entries at the beginning of each chapter was a clever way of incorporating family history while also tying the two eras together.
Benzer and Franklin and Patty and even the adults were great characters and even greater friends. They were described well physically and personality-wise. It was quite a lovable cast.
The adventure was fabulously unrealistic. Of course it's a search for gold, including an old leatherbound diary and a hidden room behind a bookcase and crumbling trellises. Of course.
Understandably (seeing as it spoke a lot about the Civil War), racism was a prominent theme. I thought it was portrayed well—not too heavy-handedly, but clear. It even gave the Confederates an ear. No one is perfect, including Lou's ancestors, but that's where the lessons come in.
But my favorite part was how the author approached God. A lot of middle grade authors—and authors in general—seem to skirt around religion, or make their characters disbelievers or completely uninterested in spiritual matters. Lou didn't really believe either way in the beginning, but after she found the family Bible and promised God she'd attend church if He gave her an exciting summer, she began to become more aware of Him. She enjoyed church, and she continued to pray random prayers throughout the book. In her final prayer of the book, she thanked God and apologized for thinking He was a "fuddy-duddy." When she gave her grandma the letter she'd found in the Bible, and her grandma exclaimed over it, Lou said, "Maybe someone should have opened it a little more often!" I almost cried.
10/10 would reccomend, if you're looking for a lighthearted read with solid morals.