Book+Talks+Spring+2012


 * Video Book Talks: **

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 * Molly Blackburn: Long Walk to Water **

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 * Annie Gray: Notes from the Dog **

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 * Sandra Bienka – Girl, Stolen **

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 * Cheryl Schwager: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. **


 * Sarah Trimpe: Girl, Stolen **
 * [] **


 * Scripted Book Talks: **


 * Linda Bauman: All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg **

//** *Note Scene setting with prop is in red. Passage from the book is in verse **//.

Opening scene: (A young Vietnamese 7th grade boy is setting on the baseball field with a baseball in his hand. It is tattered and torn with the red stitching frayed and hanging in loose pieces from the hard, dirty, scarred, once bright white leather with one side exposing a knotted tangled mess of fibers inside).

“I wonder why coach wants us to look at the inside of a baseball”, I think to myself.

Hi, I’m Matt Pinn. It is the late 1960’s and I live with my parents and younger brother Tommy. Tommy has my mother’s blonde hair with curls that surround his head. My dad doesn’t look like me either. That is because I am adopted. I have American blood in me, but I don’t know my other father at all. I have another mother and brother who live in Vietnam. I miss them so much. I was air lifted out of the Vietnam War zone. My mother wanted me to be safe and have a better life than the bombs that rained down on us daily like the droppings of a huge flock of birds flying over head only worse. Bombs kill. Ann E. Burg wrote about my life in her book, __All the Broken Pieces__ in verse form.

I have nightmares sometimes, but my mother rubs my cheek and says it will be okay. She sings a song to me reassuring me that she will always be there for me. But this isn’t really my home is it, I wonder. My parents really try. They take me to the adoption agency each month to learn about my culture. It is not the Vietnam I remember.

My Vietnam is more like my baseball here, a bunch of broken pieces all knotted together.

My dad plays ball with me in the park and thinks that I will be good. He wants me to try out for the school team. I wasn’t so sure about it. I felt nervous and afraid but decided to try out anyway. Besides I am not very good at learning the piano from Jeff Harding the ex Vietnam medic. It is hard to believe that his hands helped heal broken men. His hands are so soft on the keys and the music is so beautiful. I can barely spread my fingers far enough to reach the keys and the sounds are more choppy and odd sounding. But my mother is right, music does help me a little to forget the awful secret I carry inside and sooth the nightmares. Sometimes I think, “Would my parents really want me if they knew?” I heard whispers coming from their bedroom last night and wonder how long it will be before they send me away to foster care.

Maybe baseball will be good for me. I told my dad that I didn’t think I would make the team. He told me again that I have a great arm and the Coach Robeson is a great coach. Tryouts were last week and even though I was nervous, it seemed to be going well until I heard voices, ones that said things that hurt and packed an invisible punch. “Frog face”; “Matt the rat”; and “Learn to play in a rice-paddy?” were just a few phrases that stung like a bee. Rob Brennen even knocked me down when the coach wasn’t looking and said in a forced whisper for only me to hear accusing me of killing his brother. I prayed I would get cut from the team. I nearly threw up when I looked at the list posted next to the gym. My name was on it. Later I found an ugly picture taped to my locker. I knew what the words and picture meant.

(Passage from book.)

// Because of you //

// there’s no place for me. //

// Prejudice is ignorance //

// in a catcher’s mask. //

Coach Robeson says, coughing.

His face is white-angry

and his eyes

are like steel bullets.

I didn’t tell anyone

about the note

but somehow Coach

must have found out.

Alex, Billy, and Rob

are the only seventh graders

who made the team.

Alex is a quiet boy

with curly hair and glasses

who lives across the street from me.

Sometimes we ride our bikes

together or toss the ball around.

Did he know about the note?

Did he tell Coach Robeson?

There are two Michaels, a Drew,

an Eric, a Daniel, and a few boys

I don’t even know yet.

Did they know about the note?

Would they even care?

// I hear one more derogatory comment, //

Coach says looking at everyone

slow and steady,

one at a time,

his sharp eyes

locking their eyes

before they have a chance

to look down,

// you won’t play on any team, //

// in any school, in any town. //

// Period. //

// Either plan to play like a team, //

// or get out now. //

He doesn’t mention my name

or the note.

Sometimes the words people don’t say

are as powerful as the ones they do. (Pg. 84-86).

( Picking up the ball again Matt slowly moves the ball around in his hand. He begins to remove the leather outer cover, and unravel the inner white cords trying to find out what is in the inside beyond the tangled mass of string)

And then there is this ball coach gave to us. I wonder what is on the inside, down deep behind the black rubber coating. Coach wants us to look deep inside, at the heart of the ball. I tore off the cover, unraveled the surrounding string, and found the hard black rubber piece. To me it has little meaning. I don’t see anything that will make me or my teammates play better ball. I really just don’t understand. I guess I will just stuff the broken pieces in my pocket. I seem to be collecting and saving a lot of broken things lately.

By the way, if you want to know more about my life and how it all comes together, you can read __All the Broken Pieces__ by Ann E. Burg.


 * Kristy Hagerup ** ** : Epitaph Road **

//** Note **//: The way I had planned to present this as a talk show that would take place in the future. The props I would use would be two arm chairs (one for me, and one for my guests), a backdrop/scenery, guests and I would be wearing a suit.

// *Cue station theme song and title screen for news program* //

** Announcer **: Today is August 27, 2097. Good morning world!

// TV host enters //

** Host (me) **: Thank you ladies and ladies! What a glorious morning this is! Today, we have a special show for you and some very, very special guests in honor of the anniversary of the great plague that wiped throughout population 30 years ago today. It was August 27, 2067 when one of the greatest tragedies hit our world. A plague, spawned from unknown forces, targeted and killed 97 percent of our male population. Fathers, sons, husbands all killed. Tragic. To get a since of how horrid this event was, our first guest is historian, Dr. Heather Smith, will give us an account about this tragic even. Dr. Smith, what have you brought with you today?

** Dr. Smith **: Well, what I have is actually very special. This artifact was recently discovered and is believed to be a first hand account of the events of this day. It’s a journal, and I would like to read it to you, if you don’t mind?

** Host **: Of course! Please!

** Dr. Smith **: *Clears throat* P. 4-5 Dated, August 27, 2067.

// “Ten more days crept by. In the mountains, little changed. Morning wind spoke in the trees, morning clouds gathered, then dispersed in afternoon sunshine, night came a little earlier each time, stars shone and faded rain fell, morning arrived again. Hearts ached, day after day. //

// “Around the globe, cautious reports surfaced that death had halted. But the male species had come face-to-face with extinction. The estimate of the dead; more than four billion or 97 percent of the male population. //

// “Most of the survivors lived in remote back-country. Others were on the move while some lived in cities but were forgotten enough or resourceful enough or ruthless enough to avoid human contact. //

// “A handful of males had been exposed but had not fallen ill. A small number turned out to be transgender. Others either dodged the disease or were immune. If so, no one knew why. A few survivors had happened to choose this time to backpack in the wilderness. Lucky, the newswomen called them. “ //

** Host **: Powerful words, powerful indeed. Thank you very much for coming in. However, while this event was indeed tragic, there was a silver lining. As most of you know, in light of the plague, our society began to flourish. To comment on this, our next guest is social analysis Maria Williams will provide insight as to how this effected our society in a positive way. Ms. Williams, thank you for being here.

** Ms. Williams **: Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to be here.

** Host **: Now Ms. Williams, we know this events was horrible, but what positive aspects have come from it?

** Ms. Williams **: Well, there were actually many benefits. At first we were in peril. All our men were dead. Our source of power and authority was gone. We were lost. Like a flock without a shepherd. If we hoped to survive, we needed to take charge. We needed to solve problems. We needed to lead. As a result, women around the world became leaders, better leaders than our world had ever seen before. Leadership and ingenuity of females of the world eradicated hunger, crime, prejudice, and nearly all problems that had plagued our world while under the rule of man. Really, it was a miraculous thing.

** Host **: Wonderful! So, as a social analysis, why do you think this happened? What was it about women’s rule and power that caused such a miraculous transformation within society?

** Ms. Williams **: It’s quite simple really, freedom. No longer did we have the crippling oppression of man holding us back. Yes, men gave us “rights” and ”equality”, but those were just an illusion. They were still the dominate sex who ruled with power generated by greed, and competition and, frankly, stupidity. And that’s not an opinion, it’s a genetic and scientific fact.

** Host **: Naturally. Go on.

** Ms. Williams **: And with these domineering creatures gone we females finally had the authority to rule in a way that we knew would generate positive societal result and low and behold…

** Host **: We are woman! Hear us roar! *APPLAUSE* Well thank you very much for coming to talk to us today. Our final guest is a camp master at one of our country’s finest Men’s camp. Officer Shirley Wilkie. Thank you for being here.

** Shirley Wilkie **: Good to be here.

** Host **: So tell me, how are things at the camps? Could you explain exactly what your job is, for our viewers who don’t know?

** Shirley Wilkie **: Sure thing. Well it’s my job as an officer to protect society. And in order to do this, by the standards that our society is defined as now, I need to monitor and control the actions of males. Now, we all know, if we let those unruly…men…have their way with our world, we would be no better off than we were 100 years ago. So, what I do is keep them in check. Who they can talk to, when they can talk, and even who they can reproduce with. It’s all very intricate, but it’s important. If I didn’t, who knows what would happen?

** Host **: Of course! Your job is invaluable. Now, what about those men who chose to not follow the rules set forth in our society?

** Shirley Wilkie **: Well, we have a special place for them. We send them to a camp. It’s not a jail, it’s really more of a place to keep them…under control so to speak and how of society to prevent harm. Which, ultimately, that’s our main goal.

** Host **: Of course of course!! Well thank you again for being here! And that’s our show! Thank you for being here and…

** Security Guard ( **//** chasing intruder) **//: Quick stop her! She’s getting away!

** Host **: What’s going on here?! Who are you? (Talking to intruder)

** Intruder **: Who I am isn’t important but what I have to say is!

** Host **: Security! Get her out of here!

** Intruder **: No! Hear me! Everyone out there! Hear what I have to say! What you’re doing is wrong! Controlling people is wrong! All this plague, the sickness, the extermination of men! It’s a conspiracy! A plot to keep those in power! I know it is for a fact! I have proof!! What you’re doing is not only horribly wrong, but inhumane! The world must know the truth! It must be heard! It must//** ….(tackled by security guard). **//

** Host **: Ugh, finally. Such nonsense. Conspiracy. Well, that’s what you get folks when the show is live! Crazy! Well, until next time, have a lovely day!


 * Beth Kibby: ** __Birthmarked__ by Caragh M. O’Brien

** Prop **: pocket watch worn on a ribbon around my neck; I refer to it directly and touch it when I speak as Gaia.

** Book Talk Script **

// I stand to the right of front of the room with the right side of my face toward the audience. I wear a pocket watch on a ribbon around my neck. As I speak Gaia’s words, I touch the watch for comfort. //

My name is Gaia and I delivered my first baby as a midwife tonight. I’ve trained with my mother for years, but tonight I helped a young mother bring her first baby into the world on my own. The delivery went smoothly: // (I hold up the pocket watch.) // I used my birthday gift to time the contractions, and I followed the routine my mother taught me, tea for the mother and a tattoo for the infant. The mother called the baby Priscilla. It was difficult to hear her name the baby, since the infant must be advanced to the Enclave. Though I felt confused and guilty, it is my duty to give the first three babies I deliver each month to the Enclave. I am glad to serve. I must hurry home. My mother will be worried when she returns from her delivery and sees I’m not home.

// I walk to the center of the front of the room and turn to directly face the audience. //

In Caragh M. O’Brien’s novel __Birthmarked__ // (hold up the book), // Gaia lives in Wharfton. It lies on the banks of Unlake Michigan, the empty basin of what was once a great lake, and outside the walls of the Enclave, the elite community. With barely enough food and water to survive, life is not easy in Wharfton. It is a stark contrast to the lives of the citizens of the Enclave. They have an ample food supply, running water and electricity. Life in the Enclave seems perfect to the citizens of Wharfton when they watch shows about life inside the walls.

Most families accept giving their babies to the Enclave because they know they will have a better life. Gaia’s own parents advanced her two older brothers, when they reached the age of one, which was the law at that time. Now babies are advanced immediately after birth. The Enclave discovered it was hard for parents to advance babies they reared for a year. Gaia was not eligible for advancement because she was accidently burned on her face when she was ten months old. Her scar marks her as a freak in her community, and she knows no young man will marry her. She understands her role in her community. On her way home from her first delivery, Gaia encounters Old Meg, her mother’s assistant.

“’Your parents have been taken by the Enclave,’ Old Meg said. ‘Both of them. The soldiers came an hour ago, and there’s one that stayed behind for you, too.’

‘To arrest me?’

‘I don’t know. But he’s there now.’

Gaia felt her hands grow cold, and she slowly lowered her satchel to the ground. ‘Are you sure? Why would they take my parents?’

‘Since when do they need a reason?’ Old Meg retorted.

‘Meg!’ Gaia gasped. Even in the dark, secluded as they were, Gaia was afraid someone might hear the old woman.

Old Meg grabbed her arm, pinching just above Gaia’s elbow.

‘Listen. We got back from the other birthing and your mom was just leaving to find you when the soldiers came for her and your dad,’ Old Meg said. ‘I was heading out the back, and they didn’t see me. I hid on the porch. It’s time you wised up, Gaia. Your mother’s an important resource. She’s too knowledgeable about the babies, and Enclave higher-ups are starting to want more information.’

‘What are you talking about? My mom doesn’t know anything that everybody else doesn’t already know.’. ..

Old Meg stepped back farther, looking around furtively. ‘I’m leaving Wharfton,’ she said. ‘They’ll be after me next. I just waited to see if you want to come with me.’

‘I can’t leave,’ Gaia objected. ‘This is my home. My parents will be back.’. ..

Old Meg slipped [Gaia] a small, brown parcel, smooth and light as a dead mouse. Gaia almost dropped it, repulsed.

‘Idiot,’ Old Meg said, grasping Gaia’s hand firmly over the parcel. ‘It was your mother’s. Keep it safe. On your life.’

‘But what is it?’

‘Put it along your leg, under your skirt. It has ties.’. ..

Old Meg gave her a quick jab. . . ‘Your parents were fools,’ Old Meg said. ‘Trusting, cowardly pacifists. And now they’ll pay’” (p 9-12).

// I walk back to center-front and turn to face the audience. //

Gaia returns to her home and faces questions from the Enclave soldier waiting for her. She doesn’t have the answers the soldier, Sergeant Grey, wants, especially regarding a list. Gaia never saw her mother or father with any type of list, and she tells him so. She asks when her parents will come home and if she can see them, but Sergeant Grey doesn’t give her any information and reminds her to watch her place. He tells her to take over her mother’s duties as midwife.

// I move back to the spot where I started the book talk and turn the left side of my face away from the audience. As I begin to speak, I absently touch the watch hung around my neck. //

How long will the Enclave keep my parents for questioning? When will my parents come home? I must talk to them. I have to find a way inside the walls. Who will help me?

// I walk back to center-front and turn to face the audience. I hold up the book. //

To learn if Gaia finds her parents, you’ll have to read __Birthmarked__ by Caragh M. O’Brien.

> > ** Introduction: ** > > ** PROP **: CD player playing music softly in the background for the entire book talk > > Secrets…Don’t you just love secrets. When someone tells you a secret and then immediately says, “Don’t tell anyone!” Doesn’t that just make you squirm??? > No matter who you are, you have a secret that you haven’t told anybody. > Everybody has secrets and Annabel Greene in the book ** “Just Listen” by Sarah Dessen (SHOW THE BOOK) ** has a secret! > A secret that she has never told anyone…it’s a secret that she is afraid of and ashamed of.... > > ** Middle: ** > > Here’s a little bit about the book: > > Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"—at least that’s the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf ’s Department Store. > But all that changed on the night that she and her best friend Sophie stopped being friends! > > This year, she’s the girl who has nothing: > No best friend because mean-but-exciting Sophie dropped her, no peace at home since her older sister became anorexic, and no one to sit with at lunch, that is until she meets Owen Armstrong. Tall, dark, and music-obsessed, Owen is a reformed bad boy with a commitment to truth-telling. (Barnes and Noble Book Summary) > > When life gets tough, Owen turns to music for comfort and a chance for solitude. He burns 10 cd’s for Annabel to listen to and to broaden her taste in music. > > ** (Page 310-311 - show book while reading) ** “As long as I had something to listen to, I could blur the things I didn’t want to think about, if not block them out completely. It took a lot of music to do this, though, and after a few weeks, I’d burned through my entire collection multiple times. Which was why, on a recent Saturday night, I’d broken down and pulled out the stack that Owen had burned me…For the past few weeks I’d been working my way through the discs, song by song, listening to every single track until I knew them all by heart. Each time I finished with one, I felt sad, knowing there were only that many more left before this, too, was over. Because of this, I was planning to save the one that said JUST LISTEN…Still I pulled it out every once in a while, just turning it in my hands before sliding it back to the bottom of the stack and leaving it there.” > > Throughout the year, Annabel faces many struggles with her relationships at school and at home. > > Annabel suddenly realizes she is ready to hear what is on the cd that Owen made her and titled, JUST LISTEN. With Owen’s help, maybe Annabel can face what happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends. > > ** (Page 338-339 - show book while reading) ** “My heart was pounding. Something was happening I didn’t, or couldn’t, understand. I sat up, kicking off the covers; I needed something to calm me down, or just even take way these thoughts, if only for a little while. Reaching over to my bedside drawer, I grabbed my headphones and plugged them into my CD player, then went to my desk. In the bottom drawer, after digging through all the CDs Owen had made me, I finally found it: the yellow disc that said JUST LISTEN. When I hit the PLAY button, all I could hear was….” ** (dramatic pause) ** > > ** End: ** > > In this impossible-to-put-down book, ** "Just Listen" by Sarah Dessen ** ** (SHOW THE BOOK AGAIN) ** tells the story of a year in the life of a family coming to terms with the imperfections beneath its perfect facade. Pick up the book and find out why Annabel keeps hearing the words, “Shhh, Annabel. It’s just me.” over and over in her head, what happens to Annabel on the night that she and Sophie stopped being friends ** AND ** what is on the CD that Owen made for Annabel and titled JUST LISTEN!!! I hope you all enjoy the book as much as I did!!!!!!
 * 1) ** Leah Kinworthy: Just Listen” by Sarah Dessen **


 * Danae McCoy **

Title: Matched

By: Ally Condie

Have you ever wondered if you would find your true love? How would you know they were really the one? What if you had the option to find out who they were, would you believe or would you be skeptical? In the not to distant future __Cassia__, along with the rest of her peers finally turning 18, get to find out who their partner for life will be. In Cassia's Society, Officials decide who your life partner is, what your job will be and at what age you will die. Every part of your life is ran through the system to determine the best possible life you can obtain. At the Matched ceremony each teen turning 18 is introduced to their life partner. Partners have been selected based on compatibility, personality, health and any other characteristics the system can think of to find the perfect match.

As Cassia rides on the train towards her Matching ceremony and her future, she pulls out her compact, a gift from her Grandfather, ( I pull out my personal compact that has a silver circle on the top surrounded by gold detailing and mimic Cassia's actions) as Cassia studies the compact before checking her reflection she wonders what her ancestor would have truly needed this artifact for. Cassia is one of the few families that still possess a family heirloom that has been passed down over the years. Through the generations these heirloom's have lost their original purpose, and with it, their meaning.

After years of dreaming of this night Cassia is finally ready; extremely anxious, but ready!. She has picked a green dress that reflects her eyes and only carries her compact, a privilege provided for this special occasion. As her family sits down to dinner they are awed by the presentation of food. Again, diet is strictly regulated and generous options are rarely provided. On this momentous evening Cassia learns that her match is from her neighborhood and not only does she know him, he is her best friend; the same boy she sat next to on the train.

Xander, Cassia's match is a charismatic, generous, caring, handsome gentleman whom she has known her entire life. All of a sudden every girl she knows is jealous! For the first time Cassia is uncomfortable in her home town.

The next morning Cassia, curious to learn what she doesn't already know about Xander ,logs into the system quickly discovering she has a second Match! At first shock then curiosity takes over. The society ** never ** makes a mistake!

Looking for reassurance from her Grandfather leaves her even more troubled with a passed down family poem and the words of her Grandmother,"did you wonder?"

Page: 137

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage, against the dying of the light.

And as i read on, I know why it speaks to me;

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they,

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Stunned by her Grandparent's illegal actions of hiding a poem and puzzled by what the poem could mean Cassia spends time in her Grandpa's favorite place, the outdoors. Here Cassia comes to appreciate the freedom in walking the trails of her own mind while finding happiness and love in unexpected places. Though her personal discoveries are not going unnoticed, the Society of Officials are close behind her every move. How much do they suspect? Could her Grandfathers poem put her family in danger? Could her parents be hiding secrets of their own?

Does Cassia fall for the best friend she would have a beautiful life with or the acquaintance who is forbidden?

Sarah Stapel: Mistaken Identity By Don and Susie Van Ryn, Newell, Colleen, and Whitney Cerak with Mark Tabb

** Book Talk Script: **

** Introduction: **

** PROP **: hold up PEOPLE magazine from 2006 with breaking story involving the 2 families



What went wrong!? That is one of the biggest questions that went through the minds of the friends, families, and victims of the case involving a mistaken identity. This case made national news, including People magazine back in 2006. Many of you may remember when this happened. Oprah, CNN, and others spotlighted these tragic events throughout the summer of 2006. So many families were effected by what happened to a group of college students involved in a terrible accident. Two girls, two families, but one huge mistake! In the book, Mistaken Identity (show the book like above) we will take a look at the gripping story behind two families and were it all went wrong.

** Some background: **

In 2006, a group of college students were riding home in their van when a semi truck struck the van tossing most of the passengers out at least 50 feet away. There was only one survivor. The rest were taken to a hospital to be identified by representatives other than family. The lone survivor was a girl named Laura Van Ryn. She was badly hurt and hanging on to life. Her family, being the devout Christians that they are, prayed for her to survive the tragic accident. They knew she would need it.

** Middle: **

Not only does Laura's family send up their prayers but so does the Cerak family. They on the other hand were not so lucky. Their daughter, Whitney, was one of the students that did not make it. When asked to come identify the body, the family couldn't bare to see their loved one like that. They let the college handle it. If only they had checked...

The Cerak family, Newell, Colleen, Carly, and Sandra were also devout Christians. It seemed that this was something the two families had in common. They had to bury their daughter and it was all they could do to hold it together. ** (Page 64 as I'm holding the book) ** "As they lay on Whitney's bed mourning her death, they began sharing stories that brought her life into the room. Most of the stories left them laughing. They talked about Whitney's infectious smile and her mischievous sense of humor. Nothing would ever take those away those memories, but the realization that the memories were all they had left made them break down in tears again." They longed for their Whitney.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Laura Van Ryn begins to make small progress. She begins responding the sounds, movement, etc. Her family, boyfriend, and friends are all optimistic. They know she has a "marathon" in front of her as far as recovery goes. The family, especially Laura's sister, Lisa decide to create a blog to inform everyone of her progress. There were so many visitors each day that they couldn't keep up. The blog became an important outlet for the family to communicate to those who cared so much. With each day came more positive progress for Laura. They also wrote her letters throughout her time in the hospital so she could read them when she woke up. Laura had surgery with many procedures...this put her into a coma.

** (Page 89 as I hold the book) ** "People say we are so strong. Don't believe it! You know what a wimp I am! Being lifted up in prayer is my only explanation. My fears are many for you "little one, " but God is greater than my fears. Sleep well, sweet Laura. I love you so much-Mom. This was a note to Laura after her surgery." Not long after this surgery, Laura begins to wake up more and more. During this time, strange things come into play. She begins calling herself Whitney and her sister Carly. She thought her boyfriend's name was Hunter. None of this is right. It must be the brain injury everyone thought. Laura's sister is the one that makes the grande discovery. Her sister Laura has an uncanny similar look to Whitney Cerak, the girl that passed away in the accident. Is this really her sister that they have been caring for?

** End: **

In this book, ** "Mistaken Identity" ** ** (SHOW THE BOOK AGAIN) ** tells the story of several months in the life of a two families coming to terms with the life and death of their daughters. Check out this book and find out what went wrong the night of April 26, 2006. The struggles and miracles in this book definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't put this book down as I was reading. Ironically, I remember this true story of uncanny events back when it occurred in 2006. Maybe some of you remember it too. If not, then I definitely suggest you read it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!


 * Lorialei Thunker: Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson **

“Extra Extra Read Allll About It!!! The President has been Assassinated. The Assassin is on the Loose. The Nation is Mourning. President Shot in the Theater. J. Wilkes Booth, Actor, the Assassin.(104) Extra Extra Read All About It” (Wearing a Newsboy hat and waving a newspaper around)

You can read all about these headlines in the book Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson. (Show the book cover)( take off props)

History books only give us a blurb of information about time periods and important events. In a history class you may have learned that Abraham Lincoln was killed in Ford’s Theater by John Wilkes Booth, but that’s just about it. Nothing more. This book Chasing Lincoln’s Killer gives you so much more information about the murder of Lincoln and the escape and man hunt to find John Wilkes Booth and his conspirators. The history book never told us that Booth got away and was on the run for days before people even knew which direction he and his accomplice, George Herold, had run.

Chasing’s Lincoln’s Killer gives a real life account of this 12 day man hunt from research done by the author. The author not only presents the information in a thrilling tale but also provides real pictures and newspaper articles throughout the entire account.

The book starts with plans of the assassin before the attack on Lincoln and others and continues until John Wilkes Booth has one last decision to make. Listen to the way author James L. Swanson put Booth’s thoughts at the end of the 12 day manhunt: “ The assassin had three choices: stay in the barn and burn alive, blow his brains out, or script his own honorable end by hobbling out the front door and doing battle with the manhunters, welcoming death but risking capture”.(171)

Well what decision did John Wilkes Booth make on the early morning of April 26th? Do you know? Did the history books tell you? Well I guess there is just one thing to do:

(Put on hat and grab newspaper) Extra Extra Read All About It!! in Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L. Swanson.