Synopses & Reviews
andquot;An extraordinary book . . . that could well be mind-blowing to the thoughtful young reader who is ready to move beyond the black-and-white notion that a particular act is wrong simply because it is illegal.andquot; --Richie Partington
When does strategy become cheating? Can good luck be theft? Is killing always a crime? Real-world cases show there are often no clear-cut answers in this fascinating look at the ever-evolving world of law and order, and crime and punishment.
and#160;When some people kill, they are jailed or even executed. When others do, they are celebrated as heroes. Though this example is extreme, itandrsquo;s just one of many that author and lawyer Teri Kanefield explores in depth. From an examination of what constitutes a crime, why and how we punish people who commit crimes, how the government determines these rules, to how citizens have reacted when they feel laws arenandrsquo;t fair, this book will challenge young readersandrsquo; thinking about law and order, crime and punishment, while giving them specific legal cases to ponder along the way. For ages 12 and up,and#160;this examination of the legal system will also include historical photography to help bring each legal case to life.
Review
This meticulous and tremendously suspenseful account of the attempted heist of Abraham Lincoln’s body in 1876 reads like a smartly cast fictional crime thriller, with a skillful buildup of tension and sharp character portrayals. Sheinkin (Bomb) lays the groundwork for the plot by delving into the history of counterfeiting, a booming business during and after the Civil War (“By 1864, an astounding 50 percent of the paper money in circulation was fake”). James Kennally, leader of one of the largest counterfeiting rings in the Midwest, masterminded the plot to steal the late president’s body from the Lincoln Monument, outside Springfield, Ill. His intent was to ransom the purloined corpse, hitting up the government for a tidy sum of money and the freedom of his jailed, top-notch engraver. Perhaps the most dynamic player is Lewis Swegles, a shrewd career criminal who juggled double roles as Secret Service informer and alleged conspirator. Sheinkin’s study of Swegles’s thought process and machinations intensifies the drama of the final showdown between the would-be robbers and government officials. A sizzling tale of real-life historical intrigue.
- Publishers Weekly starred review
Review
andquot;Kanefield not only allows readers to understand how notions of right and wrong change over time and across cultures, helping them begin to understand the complexities of crime and punishment, but she will probably leave them eager to find out more.andquot;
andmdash;Horn Book Magazine
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andquot;This short book is dense with examples and ideas and makes a complicated, somewhat daunting subject more accessible and interesting to a younger audience.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist
andquot;An easy and informative read, gives basic information about the criminal justice system, and will appeal to those interested in the topic.andquot;
andmdash;VOYA
Review
* andquot;Bartoletti tells the womanandrsquo;s story with empathy and understanding [and] explores the myriad violations of Mallonandrsquo;s civil rights and her unusually harsh treatment in comparison to other healthy typhoid carriers. Energetic, even charming prose will easily engage readers.andquot;
andmdash;School Library Journal, starred review
* andquot;Expertly weaving together both historical background and contemporary knowledge about disease and public health, Bartoletti enlivens Mallonand#39;s story with engrossing anecdotes and provocative critical inquiry while debunking misconceptions.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist, starred review
andquot;[A] thoroughly researched biography.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly
* andquot;Bartoletti skillfully weaves the answers into the beginning of the story, before moving on to Soperand#39;s cat-and-mouse game of tracking Mary down and then keeping her quarantined for most of the rest of her life...excellent nonfiction.andquot;
andmdash;Horn Book Magazine, starred review
andquot;A very comprehensive and engaging account of the sad life story of Mary Mallon.andquot;
andmdash;VOYA
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Synopsis
A true crime thriller -- the first book for teens to tell the nearly unknown tale of the brazen attempt to steal Abraham Lincoln's body!
The action begins in October of 1875, as Secret Service agents raid the Fulton, Illinois, workshop of master counterfeiter Ben Boyd. Soon after Boyd is hauled off to prison, members of his counterfeiting ring gather in the back room of a smoky Chicago saloon to discuss how to spring their ringleader. Their plan: grab Lincoln's body from its Springfield tomb, stash it in the sand dunes near Lake Michigan, and demand, as a ransom, the release of Ben Boyd --and $200,000 in cash. From here, the action alternates between the conspirators, the Secret Service agents on their trail, and the undercover agent moving back and forth between the two groups. Along the way readers get glimpses into the inner workings of counterfeiting, grave robbing, detective work, and the early days of the Secret Service. The plot moves toward a wild climax as robbers and lawmen converge at Lincoln's tomb on election night: November 7, 1876.
Synopsis
In a riveting biography that reads like a crime novel,and#160;Sibert Medalist and Newbery-Honor winner Susan Campbell Bartoletti uncovers the true story of Mary Mallon,and#160;a.k.a. Typhoid Mary, one of the most notorious and misunderstood women in American history.
Synopsis
What happens when a personand#39;s reputation has been forever damaged? With archival photographs and text among other primary sources, this riveting biography of Mary Mallon by the Sibert medalist and Newbery Honor winner Susan Bartoletti looks beyond the tabloid scandal of Maryand#39;s controversial life. How she was treated by medical and legal officials reveals a lesser-known story of human and constitutional rights, entangled with the science of pathology and enduring questions about who Mary Mallon really was. How did her name become synonymous with deadly disease? And who is really responsible for the lasting legacy of Typhoid Mary? This thorough exploration includes an authorand#39;s note, timeline, annotated source notes, and bibliography.
Synopsis
When does strategy become cheating? Can good luck be theft? Is killing always a crime? Real-world cases show there are often no clear-cut answers in this fascinating look at the ever-evolving world of law and order, and crime and punishment.
and#160;
andquot;An extraordinary book . . . that could well be mind-blowing to the thoughtful young reader who is ready to move beyond the black-and-white notion that a particular act is wrong simply because it is illegal.andquot; --Richie Partington
About the Author
Teri Kanefield, an appellate lawyer and children's book writer, is the author of Rivka's Way and The Girl from the Tar Paper School. Her articles and essays have appeared in publications as diverse as Cricket Magazine, The Iowa Review, Education Week, and The American Literary Review.