James L. Swanson

Recounts the escape of John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln's assassin, and follows the intensive twelve-day search for him and his accomplices.

Chasing Lincoln's Killer

Kaitee Tredway

Another Bookriot Read Harder 2020 choice. YA nonfiction is definitely worthwhile.

"James Earl Ray and Martin Luther King, Jr. had two very different life journeys -- but their paths fatally collide when Ray assassinates the world-renown civil rights leader. This book provides an inside look into both of their lives, the history of the time, and a blow-by-blow examination of the assassination and its aftermath."--Provided by publisher.

The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Assassin

Chasing King's Killer

Jeni Enjaian

This book felt entirely too superficial. Granted, I have read a lot of history both academic and historical fiction. However, Swanson, whose adult historical works I have read before, skims over all sorts of details, likely in the hopes of writing at the level of young adults. Also, although Swanson had nothing to do with the categorization of the book on the nominee list of the South Carolina School Librarians Association but until I consulted the list, I thought this book appeared on the "junior" list targeted towards middle grades rather than the "young adult" list targeted for high school students.

While the book held no obvious flaws, it held no gems either. I would not recommend this book.

Chasing Lincoln's Killer

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