alexcruse's review
5.0
I would have devoured this book as a kid. It's a tad morbid but fun and informational.
A kid-friendly book that reminded me of Sarah Vowell's "Assassination Vacation", this book walks you through the whys of not only the 4 successful presidential assassinations but many attempts and plots on the presidents throughout the years. It actually debunks some widely thought to be true facts, for example: Teddy Roosevelt wasn't shot during his speech in Milwaukee and then kept giving it; he was shot BEFORE he even left for the speech but because he wasn't coughing up blood he made his team take him to the speech so he could give it. I learned a lot I didn't already know and had a blast reading this.
A kid-friendly book that reminded me of Sarah Vowell's "Assassination Vacation", this book walks you through the whys of not only the 4 successful presidential assassinations but many attempts and plots on the presidents throughout the years. It actually debunks some widely thought to be true facts, for example: Teddy Roosevelt wasn't shot during his speech in Milwaukee and then kept giving it; he was shot BEFORE he even left for the speech but because he wasn't coughing up blood he made his team take him to the speech so he could give it. I learned a lot I didn't already know and had a blast reading this.
kalira's review
dark
informative
fast-paced
5.0
I borrowed this from the library as a curiosity after I heard about it, and was really impressed. I learned a lot about American history (and some of our presidents) that I had never heard before, even after taking American History and US Government in high school. Not all of the things I learned about our presidents and our history was great to read, but then, neither history nor politics are always pleasant.
It was interesting and easy to read, with enough background information on everything that there was no need to look anything up for context as I read. (It also was neither too . . . gory, or anything - I'd've been happy to read it to my niece, say - nor too condescending or simplified on the excuse of it being 'for children'.)
The bulk of the book, divided up by presidents, was followed by a brief history of the Secret Service (I'd certainly never heard the story of how they came about and evolved to take on their current duties) and a short fictional piece about a schoolboy that was quite amusing and fit in nicely with the book's topic.
It was interesting and easy to read, with enough background information on everything that there was no need to look anything up for context as I read. (It also was neither too . . . gory, or anything - I'd've been happy to read it to my niece, say - nor too condescending or simplified on the excuse of it being 'for children'.)
The bulk of the book, divided up by presidents, was followed by a brief history of the Secret Service (I'd certainly never heard the story of how they came about and evolved to take on their current duties) and a short fictional piece about a schoolboy that was quite amusing and fit in nicely with the book's topic.
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