James L. Swanson's Options for Gifted Readers

Two Versions of his Lincoln Books are Written at Different Levels

Oct 18, 2009

Gifted teachers should hope that James L. Swanson will start an adaptation trend. His bestseller, Manhunt, is now available as a book for students.

Gifted readers love having options. Easy books that are quick reads open the door to finding more difficult, deeper books on a similar topic. Books written on the reader's high level can be too shocking or graphic, leading students on a search for a similar book that is more age appropriate. With Chasing Lincoln's Killer and Manhunt, James L. Swanson offers options for gifted readers who want to learn more about one of America's most pivotal moments: the assassination of President Lincoln.

Even without having read Manhunt, Chasing Lincoln's Killer is a dramatic, fascinating look at the dark days before and after President Lincoln's tragic assassination. The pages of the book are cream-colored, and the print is a dark, old-western brown, making the reader feel as though she has traveled back to those lawless, unhappy days. Photographs and newspaper clippings from the time period are scattered throughout the book, and readers see picture of of Booth posing for the camera, picture of his small gun, maps of his route, and a distant shot of bodies swinging in Civil War era justice.

The story of John Wilkes Booth and the days surrounding his dramatic and heinous crime has proven to be perpetually interesting, but finding books written by experts that are written specifically for students can be as hard as finding...well, Lincoln's killer. James L. Swanson adapted his own adult-level book, Manhunt, and made that bestseller into a book that is accessible to students. An example of the differences between the books is as follows:

Manhunt has more detail and a higher reading level, but students who are gifted readers could read Manhunt - a book written for a high-ability reader – and take the AR test on Chasing Lincoln's Killer, as well as enjoy the kid-appropriate maps and pictures in Chasing.

James L. Swanson's Voice

Another nice feature of Chasing Lincoln's Killer is that the author writes to kids about how he became interesting in Lincoln's death when he was ten, and his grandmother gave him a gift related to Booth, and how Manhunt was born from a life-long interest in Lincoln and Booth. He drifts into second person and writes directly to the young adults reading his books, telling them what they will see when they visit Ford's Theater, and recommending the little-known Petersen House memorial, where President Lincoln died.

Swanson gives readers an understanding of how Booth thought without presenting a sympathetic view, and Swanson faithfully and consistently stresses the tragic losses the world faced in losing a president of Lincoln's abilities. The book is best appreciated by upper-elementary to junior high level readers.

Chasing Lincoln's Killer, by James L. Swanson, is available as an audiobook and a hardcover book. It was published in January 2009 by Harper Collins.

Manhunt: The 12 Chase of Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson is available in paperback, hardback, audiobook, and as a Kindle book. It was first published in 2006 by Harper Collins.

The copyright of the article James L. Swanson's Options for Gifted Readers in Gifted Classes Materials/Lessons is owned by Alex Sharp. Permission to republish James L. Swanson's Options for Gifted Readers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.