The Civil War was one of America's darkest times, when brother fought against brother and the country was almost torn in two.

But it also produced one of our greatest presidents and stories of courage.Many books have been written chronicling this historic time in America. Diane Danielson, director of the Palmerton Area Library, applied for and received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for "We the People Bookshelf on a More Perfect Union."The library received 19 hardback books and a five-disc DVD set of the film "The Civil War" by Ken Burns."I believe it's a nice balance of books for preschoolers, young adults and adults. There is some fiction but mostly non-fiction," said Danielson."Tico and the Golden Wings" by Leo Lionni is a children's book. "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson is about a young slave girl written for young readers. There are some books on Abraham Lincoln. "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara, a Pulitzer Prize winner, about the battle at Gettysburg and "Carver: A Life in Poems" about the life, character, and achievements of the African American inventor, botanist, artist, and teacher, Washington Carver by Marilyn Nelson are just a few of the books now available to check out."All make for very interesting reading," said Danielson.