Chasing Lincoln's Killer is an upper elementary to middle grade nonfiction book for readers with a passion for history. This is a great enrichment for 5th grade literature circles or advanced gifted curriculum.
Based on rare archival material, obscure trial manuscripts, and interviews with relatives of the conspirators and the man hunters, Chasing Lincoln's Killer is a fast-paced thriller about the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth: a wild twelve-day chase through the streets of Washington, D.C., across the swamps of Maryland, and into the forests of Virginia. A thrilling tale of enigma and intrigue that follows through primary sources the very hour by hour happenings of the Lincoln assassination that is fast-paced and written in a way that readers will be able to experience the action via accounts from those who encountered Booth on his escape.
Excerpt from the book: "In that crowd standing below Lincoln was John Wilkes Booth. He turned to his companion, David Herold, and objected to the idea that blacks and former slaves would become voting citizens. In the darkness Booth threatened to kill Lincoln: "Now, by God, I'll put him through."
And as Booth left the White House grounds he spoke to companion and co-conspirator, Lewis Powell:"that is the last speech he will ever give." (Swanson)
About the author:
James L. Swanson is the author of the New York Times bestseller Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer. He is an attorney who has written about history, the Constitution, popular culture, and other subjects for a variety of publications, including the Wall Street Journal, American Heritage, Smithsonian, and the Los Angeles Times. Mr. Swanson serves on the advisory council of the Ford's Theatre Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign and is a member of the advisory committee of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
Discussion Questions:
Why was the author captivated by the assassination of Abraham Lincoln?
What is a primary source?
What types of primary sources did the author use in the book?
What is the difference between a firsthand and secondhand account?
How does the author use the prologue to introduce the story?
Did John Wilkes Booth plan his escape carefully? Why did he have so much difficulty?
What happened to John Wilkes Booth in the end? What were his last words?
How has he been immortalized in Washington, D.C., as well as Lincoln himself?
Motivational Activities
Students use a chronology graphic organizer to chart the events that happen in the text.
Using the graphic organizer, students can develop a timeline of events.
Students will choose ten primary sources that would tell about their lives for a future generation. In an informational essay, the students will explain what information the sources reveal.
In a group setting, students can collaborate on the question: Did John Wilkes Booth accomplish his goal?
Students create a powerpoint presentation of primary sources and their significance to nonfiction.
Other books by James L. Swanson:
"The President Has Been Shot!": The Assassination of John F. Kennedy
Bloody Times: The Funeral for Abraham Lincoln and the Manhunt for Jefferson Davis
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer
Swanson, James. (2009). Chasing Lincoln's Killer. New York, NY. Scholastic Press.
James L. Swanson is the author of the New York Times bestseller Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer. He is an attorney who has written about history, the Constitution, popular culture, and other subjects for a variety of publications, including the Wall Street Journal, American Heritage, Smithsonian, and the Los Angeles Times. Mr. Swanson serves on the advisory council of the Ford's Theatre Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign and is a member of the advisory committee of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
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