Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson

In April 1865, following the assassination of President Lincoln, a massive manhunt began for John Wilkes Booth and his accomplices that lasted for twelve-days until Booth was cornered in the tobacco barn on the Garrett farm. Swanson traces the events that lead up to Lincoln’s assassination, vividly portrays the assassination, and offers a day-by-day account of the manhunt. Swanson provides insight into the thoughts and emotions of John Wilkes Booth, his devotion to the South and his hatred for President Lincoln, and gives an in-depth account as to how Booth was able to evade the troops searching for him for nearly two weeks.

Swanson’s has adapted his adult Manhunt into an accessible work for younger readers and portrays a captivating story in American history. The flow of Swanson’s narrative, however, is bogged down by frequent shifts in perspective and an almost excessive amount of details. The narrative also relies heavily on theatrical moments that would better suit a fictionalize account and gives a feel that Swanson is dummying down for a younger audience, for example: “In the near darkness, Fanny raced Powell to her father’s bed, trying in vain to throw her slender body between the huge assassin and her helpless father (p. 55), or “Her eyes locked on the man’s face in recognition. He was Lewis Powell, Seward’s would-be assassin. Powell’s remarkable face was unforgettable, and he had been to her home at least twice before. Mary raised her right hand as if swearing an oath. ‘Before God, sir, I do not know this man’(p. 131).” The variety of photos and other primary source documents provide great visual appeal and will help hold readers interest. The major, and inexcusable, flaw with this work is that there are no citations or source information. Swanson states: “their words are authentic” and “all text appearing within quotation marks comes from original sources: letters, manuscripts, trial transcripts, newspapers, government reports, pamphlets, books, and other documents” yet none of these authentic words or quotations are cited and nowhere in the book is there a list of any of these original sources. How can we as teachers and librarians expect students to understand why they should cite their sources when the books they are given to conduct research fail to do so?

Review based on published version supplied by publisher

Ghosts of War: The True Story of a 19-year-old G.I. by Ryan Smithson

Ryan Smithson was sixteen-years-old the day the United States was attacked on September 11, 2001. Like so many Americans, Ryan was deeply affected by the events of 9-11 and so he enlisted in the Army Reserves when he turned seventeen and two years later was deployed in Iraq.

Smithson’s biography reads exactly for what is it- therapeutic writing combined into a collection of memories about his time in Iraq. The strength of this memoir is that it avoids politicizing the war and does not fall into pro-war or anti-war rants. Smithson’s experience gives a voice to the contemporary American G.I. and provides some insights into minds of our young soldiers who risk their lives for freedom. It is at time repetitive and the pacing does not always flow evenly, but Smithson’s insight and maturity make this is a book that every young man or woman considering a military career should read to gain insight into what will be ahead for them from basic training to actual combat. Smithson does not sensationalize the violence through in-depth descriptions, but he does not shy away from the horrors of war.

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman

To marry, or not to marry? That was the question the Charles Darwin posed himself. He could come up with so many more reasons not to marry- a wife and family would interfere with his research after all, yet the desire for love and companionship ultimately won out. Darwin’s decision was confirmed the more time that he spent with Emma, though he was concerned that deeply religious Emma could never accept him because his views on evolution contradicted her religious beliefs entirely. The success of the Darwin’s marriage is a testament their faith in each other and their respect for the others beliefs.

Heiligman’s examination of the marriage of Charles and Emma Darwin is solely for motivated readers or those with an interest in the subject. The examination of Charles’ and Emma’s marriage sheds a new light onto the personal struggles of Darwin as he crafted his groundbreaking scientific theory. It also gives readers’ a sense of who Darwin was as a person- the tragedies that befell his family and his constant illness. Unfortunately, the writing though meticulously researched is dragged down by the extensive details and repetition.

Denied Detained Deported Stories from the Dark Side of American Immigration by Ann Bausum

Bausum examines the dark side of the history of American immigration from the holocaust refugees that were turned away, the detainment of Japanese Americans, and the Mexican migrant workers who were exploited. Bausum’s opinion of U.S. immigration policies is made abundantly clear from the very first page. Photographs, a timeline, and an extensive bibliography help round out this well-researched examination of the bleak aspects of American immigration. Though narrow in focus, this book provides interesting parallels to recent immigration policy and is a solid resource for teens doing research papers.

The Devil on Trial: Witches, Anarchists, Communists, and Terrorists in America's Courtrooms by Phillip Margulies and Maxine Rosaler

Margulies and Rosaler examine trials in American history in which absolute evil is placed on trial, where a person’s right to a fair trial becomes a challenge because of their perceived threat to the country. The trials examined include the Salem Witch Trials, the Haymarket Bomb Trial, the Scopes “Monkey” Trial, the trial of Alger Hiss, and the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui. Each chapter explains the history of the trial and analyzes how the country followed its ideals and goal of equal justice under law. Interesting comparisons are made between the trials and the fear evoked during the different eras. The language is straightforward and easy to understand and coupled with photographs and other primary source documents such as warrants and newspaper clippings to make this easily accessible for most readers. Timely and thought-provoking, this book raises many questions that could lead to interesting discussions and though this is not a book that most teens will pick up for leisure reading, it could definitely be used in an American government course. A glossary, notes section, extensive bibliography and index complete the work. My concern with the notes section is that it is not done in a style that students are familiar with and may not recognize. There is no indication within the text of the chapter that anything is cited, readers have to carefully review the notes section while reading the chapter to discover what is cited. How can students be expected to cite their research when the books they are using as sources do no effectively cite their sources?