With the 50th anniversary of the death of John F. Kennedy this past Friday, I wanted to highlight a book for kids that deals with his presidency and his assasination. Swanson is one of the few writers who can take his adult books and cull them down to create engaging narratives for kids. I found the next book, The Nazi Hunters, incredibly compelling and absolutely fascinating. This is one of those books that makes you realize that real life can be just as compelling as anything we can dream up in stories. Lastly I quite enjoyed Behind Enemy Lines. While I am not typically drawn to books about war, I thought it walked the balance between combat and heroism so well.
Don't forget to Like One Great Book on Facebook or Twitter for all the real life stories that will get your heart pumping and blood racing. Also check out my other non fiction posts for more compelling real life stories.
Title: The President Has Been Shot
Author: James L. Swanson
Target: Grades 7 and up
Series: No
What this book is about:
This book is an account of the Presidency and assassination of John F. Kennedy. It is split into two parts. It starts by sharing the accomplishments and failures of the President, and then goes on to detail the days leading up to and after the murder of the President. Kids will learn about the tight election race against Nixon, the Cuban Missile Crisis and civil rights movement. They will also get an in depth look at Lee Harvey Oswald, his motivations and how he was able to kill the President.
This book is an account of the Presidency and assassination of John F. Kennedy. It is split into two parts. It starts by sharing the accomplishments and failures of the President, and then goes on to detail the days leading up to and after the murder of the President. Kids will learn about the tight election race against Nixon, the Cuban Missile Crisis and civil rights movement. They will also get an in depth look at Lee Harvey Oswald, his motivations and how he was able to kill the President.
Why I love this book:
I absolutely adored Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, also by Swanson, so I was anxious to read this book. Swanson has a way of bringing non fiction to life for readers and creating a huge sense of drama, despite the fact we know the outcome. While I can’t say I enjoyed this book as much as his first, I did think it was a fascinating look at Kennedy and I came away with a much better understanding of the man and the events on the day he was shot.
I absolutely adored Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, also by Swanson, so I was anxious to read this book. Swanson has a way of bringing non fiction to life for readers and creating a huge sense of drama, despite the fact we know the outcome. While I can’t say I enjoyed this book as much as his first, I did think it was a fascinating look at Kennedy and I came away with a much better understanding of the man and the events on the day he was shot.
The photographs and diagrams that Swanson uses in the book are extremely well done, and they made the history come alive for me. I found this book so riveting and was amazed at how just a few days changed the course of our history.
Who this book is for:
Wonderful for kids interested in non fiction or history.
Wonderful for kids interested in non fiction or history.
Final thoughts:
When I looked up this book on Amazon I saw some shockingly low ratings which surprise me. However, I then realized they were all conspiracy theorists who still think that the Kennedy assassination was part of an organized plot - of course they were also planning a visit to Area 51!
When I looked up this book on Amazon I saw some shockingly low ratings which surprise me. However, I then realized they were all conspiracy theorists who still think that the Kennedy assassination was part of an organized plot - of course they were also planning a visit to Area 51!
Purchase this book:
To purchase this book on Amazon, click on the following link: "The President Has Been Shot!": The Assassination of John F. Kennedy
A portion of each purchase will go back to this blog at no cost to you.
Title: The Nazi Hunters
Author: Neal Bascomb
Target: Grades 6 and up
Series: No
What this book is about:
This book is an adaptation of Bascomb’s adult book, Hunting Eichmann. It tells the story of the discovery and the capture of the Nazi leader who lead the Jewish extermination during WWII. Eichmann was able to allude detection in Argentina for years after the war and his discovery and eventual capture by Israeli intelligence agents is the stuff great stories are made of. Bascomb accounts for every twist and turn in this tale that will leave readers on the edge of their seat, despite knowing the outcome.
Why I love this book:
First off this is just a compelling story. It would be a nail bitting, suspenseful narrative if it were made up, but the fact that it is true, makes it all the more exciting. Bascomb does a wonderful job of making us feel like we understand the risks in the operation and we are completely invested every time things don’t go according to plan.
The other thing I loved about this book was the message. The capture and trial of Eichmann was an emotionally cathartic experience for Israel. It gave survivors a chance to tell their stories, find resolution and remind the world what evil can do if not stopped. The story focuses primarily on the hunt and capture of Eichman, so the details of the Holocaust are not graphic but more informational. However, what was emotional for me was the ability of Israel to deal with this horrific experience in a healing and respectful way.
Who this book is for:
While not graphic, it does not shy away from what happened to the Jews, so kids have to be old enough to handle that part of the story. Other than that, it is for kids who like action, spies and espionage at its finest.
Final thoughts:
A great piece of nonfiction that really brings history to life.
Purchase this book:
To purchase this book from Amazon, click on the following link: The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World's Most Notorious Nazi
A portion of each purchase will go back to this blog at no cost to you.
Title: Behind Enemy Lines
Author: Bill Doyle
Target: Grades 4-8
Series: Yes
A portion of each purchase will go back to this blog at no cost to you.
Title: The Nazi HuntersThis book is an adaptation of Bascomb’s adult book, Hunting Eichmann. It tells the story of the discovery and the capture of the Nazi leader who lead the Jewish extermination during WWII. Eichmann was able to allude detection in Argentina for years after the war and his discovery and eventual capture by Israeli intelligence agents is the stuff great stories are made of. Bascomb accounts for every twist and turn in this tale that will leave readers on the edge of their seat, despite knowing the outcome.
First off this is just a compelling story. It would be a nail bitting, suspenseful narrative if it were made up, but the fact that it is true, makes it all the more exciting. Bascomb does a wonderful job of making us feel like we understand the risks in the operation and we are completely invested every time things don’t go according to plan.
While not graphic, it does not shy away from what happened to the Jews, so kids have to be old enough to handle that part of the story. Other than that, it is for kids who like action, spies and espionage at its finest.
A great piece of nonfiction that really brings history to life.
Purchase this book:
To purchase this book from Amazon, click on the following link: The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World's Most Notorious Nazi
A portion of each purchase will go back to this blog at no cost to you.Title: Behind Enemy LinesAuthor: Bill Doyle
Target: Grades 4-8
Series: Yes
What this book is about:
This book is a series of true stories which tells of the heroic deeds of soldiers and civilians during the war in Iraq. We learn about a special ops team that must defuse an underwater mine before it destroys a ship armed with nuclear weapons. We hear the bravery of an army sergeant who searches for explosives in Iraq to keep city streets safe. When her convoy is attacked, we find out how an army corporal crawls back into the raging fire to save lives, despite snipers surrounding the area.
Why I love this book:
Why I love this book:
I picked this book up simply because I know that there are kids out there who love books about war. It’s never been my thing, but for those parents with kids who have this passion, I wanted to be able to provide books that were done well.
This book surprised me by being so engaging I could not put it down! The stories were compelling and the author did a wonderful job of balancing the atrocities of war against some absolutely selfless and heroic acts. As terrible as war is, I felt hopeful at the end because of the courage and heart shown by so many in this book.
Each story was also well written and quite climactic. While I knew that each of our main characters had survived to tell their story, I nonetheless felt worried for them throughout the telling - that is how well the book sucked me in.
This book surprised me by being so engaging I could not put it down! The stories were compelling and the author did a wonderful job of balancing the atrocities of war against some absolutely selfless and heroic acts. As terrible as war is, I felt hopeful at the end because of the courage and heart shown by so many in this book.
Each story was also well written and quite climactic. While I knew that each of our main characters had survived to tell their story, I nonetheless felt worried for them throughout the telling - that is how well the book sucked me in.
Who this book is for:
This is actually a great book for reluctant readers because of the series of shorter, can’t put down stories. Kids interested in war stories will also enjoy this book
Final thoughts:
Final thoughts:
This book continued to open my eyes to so much of the courage and sacrifice that is exhibited by our armed troops on a daily basis.
Purchase this book:
To purchase this book from Amazon, click on the following link: Under Fire in the Middle East (Behind Enemy Lines)
A portion of each purchase will go back to this blog at no cost to you.
Purchase this book:
To purchase this book from Amazon, click on the following link: Under Fire in the Middle East (Behind Enemy Lines)
A portion of each purchase will go back to this blog at no cost to you.
No comments:
Post a Comment