Manhunt by James L. Swanson

I've had the YA version of this book for many months, waiting on my shelf to be read (along with dozens of other books--yay!). The books are the same story, of course, but the YA book is somewhat condensed. And (I think) it has better pictures.

This is the well-researched story of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the 12-day hunt for John Wilkes Booth and all of his accomplices. It was very interesting. In some places it was gory. In some places the writing felt overly dramatic. The whole book, though, was engaging and educational. It was not at all dry. James L. Swanson used, in many cases, the actual words of those who had been witnesses or even participants.

I found it interesting that, while the reader naturally condemns Booth for his criminal killing of the president of the United States (and cheers his hunters), Mr. Swanson portrayed Booth in such a way that the reader also feels a measure of sympathy for him. Those 12 days after the assassination were miserable ones for Booth.

I particularly liked the end of the book where Mr. Swanson wrote about what happened to each of the main characters AFTER all the excitement was over. That was cool and sad in a way too. It was a great book. It definitely has a place on my history shelf.