Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Illustrator: Otha Zackariah Edward Lohse
Nonfiction Graphic Novel
For ages 8 to 10
Capstone Press, 2005 ISBN: 978-0736838313
The America Civil War was finally showing signs of winding down. After four bloody and dreadful years President Abraham Lincoln was able to relax a little. So he and his wife Mary went to watch a performance of a play at the Ford theatre in Washington. DC.
Needing a break the police office outside the President’s box left for a short while. In his absence an actor called John Wilkes Booth entered the box. He had with him a knife and a gun. Before anyone knew what was happening Booth shot the president and the then leaped onto the stage and ran away. Behind him he left President Lincoln mortally wounded. A doctor was called and then Lincoln was carried to a nearby boardinghouse where he was attended by the doctor, his family and friends. Finally on April 15th 1865, President Lincoln died.
Meanwhile John Wilkes Booth and a friend of his headed south and into Virginia. Here they rested in a barn but they were soon found by the authorities. Booth was shot and died not long afterwards.
In this excellent account of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln readers will get a very real sense of what it might have been like to be a witness to this tragic event. At the back of the book readers can find out further information about the conspiracy to kill the president. Bright and action filled comic book style art makes this story very accessible to young readers.
