Chasing Lincoln's Killer

New York, N.Y.: Scholastic Press, 2009. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Hardcover. Very good/Very good. [10], 194, [4] pages. Illustrations. Maps. Autographed copy sticker on front of DJ. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper. This fast-paced thriller tells the story of the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth and gives a day-by-day account of the wild chase to find this killer and his accomplices. Based on James L. Swanson's bestselling adult book Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's killer, this version, written especially for young people, is a fascinating look at the assassination of the sixteenth president of the United states. But there's more to the story. Here, readers will meet Abraham Lincoln the man, the father, the husband, the friend. And they will get a firsthand look at how Lincoln's death impacted those closest to him. Born on Lincoln's birthday, James Swanson has collected books, documents, and artifacts about the life and death of Abraham Lincoln since he was ten years old. This is his first young adult book. James L. Swanson (born February 12, 1959) is an author and historian famous for his New York Times best-seller Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer, for which he earned an Edgar Award. Swanson graduated from the University of Chicago with a bachelor's degree in history and from the University of California with a J.D. degree. Swanson also has degrees in history and law from the UCLA and the University of Chicago. He has held a number of government and think-tank posts in Washington, D.C., including at the United States Department of Justice. Swanson is an Abraham Lincoln scholar and is a member of the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. Derived from a Kirkus review: The 2009 bicentennial of Lincoln's birth has spawned a large crop of books about his life and presidency. Swanson offers an exhaustive look at his death and the 12-day search for his killer, including a discussion of Booth's motivations and descriptions of the parts played by others involved in the plot. Derived from the author's 2006 bestseller Manhunt, this version features reproductions of photographs, articles and other archival material, as well as quotations liberally provided throughout. Readers will find the list of the people involved a terrific help in keeping track of the large cast of characters. The sequence of events leading up to and following the assassination is meticulously detailed, sometimes graphically enough that some readers may be disconcerted, though others may be ghoulishly fascinated. Whether young readers will share the enthusiasm of their elders for the blow-by-blow description of this convoluted tale remains to be seen. If they do, this comprehensive examination should answer all of their questions.