SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

March 17, 2014 by Travis Jonker

Nonfiction Monday: He Has Shot the President! by Don Brown

March 17, 2014 by Travis Jonker   Leave a Comment

He Has Shot the President! April 14, 1865: The Day John Wilkes Booth Killed President Lincoln
By Don Brown

Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan)

ISBN: 9781596432246
$17.99
Grades 4-6
In stores April 1, 2014

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Find it at:
Schuler Books | Your Library

I know you’ve noticed, but we are in the midst of a Lincoln revival. In the past ten years (which included the 150th anniversary of his birth) our 16th president has received a remarkable level of coverage in both children’s and adult literature. Why, then, should you feel moved to add another Honest Abe book to your collection? Because it’s written by Don Brown, a guy who always manages to take history, remove the H and I, and turn in a piece of narrative nonfiction that is gripping first and foremost.

It was a rare, cheerful day for President Abraham Lincoln

As you can probably guess – things go downhill from there. On April 14, 1865 actor (and supporter of Southern independence) John Wilkes Booth readied a group of like-minded people to take down not just Lincoln, but to pull off a triple assassination plot including Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward. Booth was the only one who succeeded, leading to a manhunt and eventual capture in Virginia.

This is a classic case of “we all know the story, but we don’t know the story”. Everyone is familiar with the part Booth plays, but very few know the entire scope of events on that fateful day. The straightforward narrative style of the text make this a quick, engaging read. Back matter is fairly limited – a bibliography citing three sources. This lack of detail may rankle some who are looking for more specifics.

The full-color illustrations, executed in Brown’s signature loose style, appear on every page and help to carry the emotional impact of the story. Brown doesn’t shy away from the truth, resulting in a couple affecting scenes of the crimes being carried out.

This is a book that will serve two audiences, and serve them well – young readers on fact-finding missions for school assignments as well as those with an interest in this incredible (and incredibly sad) event. A book that you should have on hand.

Review copy from the publisher

Filed under: Nonfiction, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

September 2020

Nonfiction Monday: Nacho's Nachos by Sandra Nickel

by Travis Jonker

August 2020

Nonfiction Monday: Mother Jones and Her Army of Mill Children

by Travis Jonker

November 2018

Nonfiction Monday: Otis and Will Discover the Deep by Barb Rosenstock

by Travis Jonker

October 2018

Review: Do Not Lick This Book by Idan Ben-Barak

by Travis Jonker

September 2018

Review: Fairy Spell by Marc Tyler Nobleman

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Surprise! Announcing CABOOSE

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Jump Into this Guest Post by Shadra Strickland About Her Latest Book: Jump In!

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Kiss Number 8 | Review

by Johanna

Heavy Medal

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

WRITING FOR YOURSELF FIRST, a guest post by author M. K. Lobb

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

SLJ Book Reviews Editors’ Favorite Books Read in 2022

SLJ’s 2022 Best Books Are Live. Download a PDF of the Complete List.

Best Nonfiction 2022 | SLJ Best Books

Best Books 2022 | The Year in SLJ Covers

Best Picture Books 2022 | SLJ Best Books

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023