I had to give this book a low rating because quite frankly I found it boring. War books in the first place are not my cup of tea, so I figured I wouldn't care for it, but I read it anyways because it's a classic. Set in the Civil War, young Henry decides to join the Army in hopes of becoming a man. Once he faces the reality of war, however, he realizes it is too much to handle and hopes to be wounded with a "red badge of courage" so that he may flee from the fighting. Henry is ashamed of his cowardice, but throughout the novel fights with his inner guilt and fear on his journey of becoming a true man.
Although I was mostly bored by the content in general, I give this book props for the story of a young man burdened with the realities of being a soldier who learns to grow from his mistakes and accept them.