Why I Picked It Up: To be honest, I thought I was getting an historical mystery. I LOVE a good historical mystery! But, the thing about history is that it is made up of stories, and so while it wasn’t what I expected, I loved it!
Why I Finished It: Mr. Sheinkin has done what my history teacher in high school did that made me fall in love with history: he has told an exciting, intriguing adventure story that happens to be true. And I had to know how it ended!! In fact, knowing it was a true story made me even more curious about the ending. Were the men successful in robbing Lincoln’s grave? Is Lincoln’s body where everyone says it is? How did I not know about this plot before???
While it read like a mystery, this book has several earmarks of a non-fiction book as well. It is full of historical images and direct quotes from primary sources (which are all neatly and accurately listed in the back – the librarian in me is proud), it has an index, and a glossary. I learned quite a bit about early counterfeit rings and the history of the Secret Service, in addition to facts about Lincoln. I also thought this book did a great job of showing how there is a continuity of history, even in seemingly disconnected eras. Most people’s knowledge of Lincoln ends when he was assassinated, but this takes you beyond that, giving you a glimpse into Lincoln’s legacy and the United States following his presidency. History needs more books like this!
Who I Would Give It To: This book would be a great addition to any middle school or early high school classroom. It would be a great springboard into reading non-fiction, showing students that non-fiction doesn’t have to be boring. With it’s obvious connection to President Lincoln, I would also include this book while studying US history.
Integration Ideas
Social Studies
The references to Lincoln’s family and his assassination lend themselves to a study of the the president and his life.
Technology Option: Timeline Tools
- http://www.dipity.com/
- http://www.tiki-toki.com/
- http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/
Another Technology Option: Create an App Smash Biography!
Companion Book
Lincoln Shot: A President’s Life Remembered (by Barry Denenberg):
This oversize book looks and feels like a hard-bound newspaper. It’s a very unique way to read about the life of the 16th president and events that transpired around his death.
Technology/Writing/Research
Students could choose a specific event or time period in Lincoln’s life and create their own news story with this Newspaper Generator: http://www.fodey.com/generators/newspaper/snippet.asp
Leave a Reply