Sunday, December 5, 2010

The 15th President and the $5 Bill

I have so far read 3 out of 6 OBOB (Oregon Battle of the Books) list. This is one I was looking forward to reading: Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson.

In 1865 Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford Theater. This caused the greatest calamity that the U.S. had seen since the Revolutionary War. There were crowds in the streets and man hunters in the wilderness, hunting for the man who caused it: actor John Wilkes Booth. Running from Washington, D.C. all the way through Maryland and into Virginia, Booth attempts to escape his hunters on a 12-day run to safety. Facts are gleaned beyond what the casual reader may have known and an entirely new experience for those who have delved deep into the assasination of our 15th president.
A beautifully written historical book, fit for everyone aged 10 and up. I was never very fond of non-fiction books, but this book was a blast! In fact, it could easily be turned into a riveting historical fiction. Is this 4-star book not enough for you? Then read Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, a more adult-oriented version of the book (also by James Swanson).

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Turkeys and a New Review

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Thanksgiving was busy. The day of the year when I eat the most. Anyway, this weekend scouting for food is finishing up. So I'll do that. Also, I have joined our school Oregon Battle of the Books team and I am reading 8 books i never knew existed beforehand. Here is the review for one of them: Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Perry:

In present-day rural Oregon, 11-year-old Ignatius “Brother” Alderman is forced to face the world when his divorced father is deployed to Iraq. Alone with only his grandparents and a hired hand, Brother must take charge of the ranch, keeping the promise he made to his father: the ranch will be the same way he left it when he returns. But as the months go on, Brother learns that he was not meant to be a rancher, and he wonders if his father will ever come home. With threats and disappointment surrounding him, Brother must step up and learn to be a man.
In all reality, when I first saw this book it didn’t appeal to me very much, with the title seemingly uninteresting and the cover just a snapshot of the main character. But, as soon as I picked up this book I could not put it down. This story is full of twists, turns, and may, in every aspect, be a true story. In her first novel, Rosanne Parry truly gave it her all. This heartwarming story gives us life lessons and is meant for everyone, whether they love to read or not.