The Booth Brothers: Drama, Fame, and the Death of President Lincoln

by Rebecca Langston-George

Today everyone knows the name of John Wilkes Booth, the notorious zealot who assassinated Abraham Lincoln. But in his lifetime, the killer was an actor who was well-known among fans of the theater, well-known but less famous and less admired than his brother Edwin. In the 1860s, Edwin Booth ranked among the greatest and most-respected stars of the stage. He lived in New York and sympathized with the Union cause, while his younger brother stomped the streets of Washington, D.C., and raged as the Civil War turned in favor of the North. John fantasized about kidnapping the president, but after the defeat of the Confederacy, he sought deadly vengeance. The night Lincoln attended a performance at Ford's Theatre, Edwin was far away, knowing nothing of the plot unfolding in the nation's capital.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Civil War, Historical, War, Middle Grade

112 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2017

About the author

Rebecca Langston-George is the author of nineteen books for children including the internationally popular For the Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai's Story, and The Booth Brothers: Drama, Fame and the Death of President Lincoln (a former Scholastic Book Club title). California Reading Association honored her with the Armin R. Schultz Award for writing in social justice in 2016. A graduate of California Baptist University, she holds a Master of Education degree. A retired teacher, Rebecca is an active volunteer serving as the Regional Advisor for the Central-Coastal California chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI CenCal) and is a board member of the California Reading Association. She's passionate about children's books, classroom writing instruction and upcycling books into works of art. She writes and mostly re-writes on a treadmill desk at one mile per hour.

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Booth Brothers: Drama, Fame, and the Death of President Lincoln by Rebecca Langston-George is a book I was lucky enough to be allowed to read from NetGalley and the book's publishers. It is an astounding read! It flows so well and gives the reader all the gossip of the time so we know all the scoop. All the players, who knows who, who was where and when, what was happening and when, little minor things that were little known, and so much more is explained in here. I was entranced! Of course I know the story but this added so much more and added things to it I didn't know and I have read about it a dozen or more times. This is not really solely on the death of Lincoln but more on the brothers Booth. Their differences, the way they grew up, what happened after the shooting, and all the way to death...that that was a shock with Edwin's death and what was happening at the same time, wow! I loved this book. Lots of great pictures and make sure you check out the pics at the end of the book of John's possessions. Wonderful book!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: Ebook received via NetGalley from the publisher. Thank you, Capstone Press.

For a book about a well-covered subject, the author finds a different angle and makes the topic fresh. While the biographical parts aren't overly in depth, they provide a picture of the contrasting personalities of the Booth Brothers and how one became an assassin. I learned something about the family of John Wilkes Booth more than the assassin himself. Talk about a family at odds with each other. Edwin seems the typical Northerner, associating with the elite of the theatre world in New York in Boston while brother John Wilkes was making a name in the South. This is definitely a book meant more for a younger crowd. There are plenty of pictures in the mix which help readers with visualizing the time and the players involved. All said and done, this is fairly balanced and errs on the side of caution. Certainly more an introductory text than an in depth character study.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this profile of the Booth brothers! While the book centers around the ridiculous plot to kill Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes, the most famous of the brothers during his 12-day run to try to circumvent capture, it absolutely delivers on the title discussing the Booth father and his performing acumen and how John Wilkes was actually the least likely to have taken the reigns of acting because the others were either already performing or following their father who was actively performing.

And then to have the name Booth, sully it with all of their actual hard work in acting simply because John was a stupid idiot seems sad. But readers do understand from the story presented, the dynamics of the family and its impact from this decision. It's a fascinating book. Somewhat short, but super focused on the subject matter. I'm glad to have read it.

[Lynndell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Booth Brothers by Rebecca Langston-George opens on April 26, 1865 when John Wilkes Booth was hiding inside a barn as a fugitive for shooting President Abraham Lincoln. The book jumps back to six years previously, describing the Booth family and the difference between the brothers. The assassination plan is described throughout its transformation, from the idea of killing four people to who was taking part in the plot. The killing of Abraham Lincoln tore the Booth family apart and even though John Wilkes Booth wanted to kill President Lincoln so he would be thought of as a hero by Southern believers, he died only a criminal. 5 stars for this informative nonfiction resource of Lincoln's death.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book for voluntary consideration.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed for professional publication. If you want to read a compelling and in-depth story about the Booth brothers, see Good Brother, Bad Brother by James Cross Giblin (Clarion, 2005).

[Cristine Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book for youth with many interesting details about the Booth family that aren’t found in history books. From three

[Shella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short biography for younger readers.

[Shaeley Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone knows the name John Wilkes Booth in connection with the assassination of President Lincoln. However, at the time of the assassination, his brother, Edwin Booth, was actually the more famous of the two. Even their father, Junius Brutus Booth, was better known than John Wilkes Booth prior to the Lincoln assassination.

This non-fiction book recounts in an engaging fashion the events surrounding John Wilkes Booth's involvement in the death of President Lincoln. It also provides information about the Booth family in contrast to the beliefs and actions of John Wilkes Booth.

Similar to Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson.

I reviewed an electronic ARC on NetGalley courtesy of the publisher.

[Malfam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick read for elementary/middle school depending on the young person. It's a great example of writing an engaging history through the lens of a single family or event. It certainly doesn't glorify John Wilkes or even focus primarily on him, instead providing background on the Booth family and the aftermath of the assassination. Highly recommended.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone knows the story of John Wilkes Booth and Abraham Lincoln. Generally, we know that Booth was from a famous acting family. This engaging book explains more about the Booth family and what happened to the Booths after the assassination in 1865.

Junius Brutus Booth was a widely-known tragedian actor in Shakespearean plays. Three of his sons followed him into acting. In 1859, John Wilkes was in a play in Richmond, Va., when he heard (from some soldiers) that an abolitionist would be hanged. Because Booth wanted to see what it was like to be a soldier, he asked the troops if he could join them, and they agreed. Donning a Richmond Gray's uniform and boarding the train, Booth witnessed John Brown's execution.

Edwin Booth was not amused when he heard of John's play-soldering prank. There was rivalry between the three sons. Edwin, who considered himself a Northerner, decided to tour Northern cities. John Wilkes, who thought himself a Southerner, would work in the theatres in the South. The eldest of the Booths, Junius Brutus Booth Jr., had moved to California during the Gold Rush. He acted in the western section of the country. Thus, the three brothers stayed out of each other's way. Each son thought he personified the perfection of his father's acting skills.

There is considerably more to the family conflicts explained in this book, but I will skip to the aftermath of the death of Abraham Lincoln. John Wilkes expected the newspapers to laud his actions. Instead, he was shocked when he was vilified. People at the play in Ford's Theatre had recognized John Wilkes, so there was no doubt about who murdered Lincoln.

Edwin Booth's career ended after the assassination because theater owners feared their patrons' anger and canceled Edwin's performances. Then, he started to receive death threats. Edwin became depressed and lost his fiancee'. Later, he resumed acting, partly by buying three theaters (with his brother-in-law). In 1879, Edwin survived an assassination attempt.

John Ford, the owner of the theatre where Lincoln died, was imprisoned for 40 days while they investigated whether Ford aided in the murder. Five days after the assassination, an incredible $100,000 reward was offered for Booth and two of his confederates.

I'd never considered that there was collateral damage to the Booth family because of John's actions. This book explains how the assassination damaged the reputations and livelihoods of the Booth family. Even though they were not privy to John Wilkes' plans, they paid a heavy price for their brother's actions.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book doesn't go into detail about the Booth brothers, one who assassinated a president, and the other whose stage career was affected by his brother's actions, it does provide a nice introduction to the two men. Most school children know how divisive the Civil War was, but they may not realize just how deeply the war and the issues that prompted it affected families. In the case of John Wilkes Booth and Edwin Booth, both actors descended from a famous acting family, disagreeing about political issues such as slavery, Civil War, and the president meant that they could barely stand to be in the same room with each other. Anyone interested in this topic or whose interest is piqued by the bare bones provided here will surely want to look for more books that describe the assassination plot and the difference between the brothers. On its own merits, the book made me think about that old argument about the difference between nature and nurture and what might have prompted one brother to move in one direction while the other moved in another. The archival black-and-white photographs allow readers to see what all these famous figures looked like.

[Molly Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nonfiction book about the Booth Brothers. The book tells the story of President Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, and his brother Edwin. The book follows the plot to kidnap the president and tells how it escalated to a kill. The story also focuses on Edwin Booth, who was anti-slavery.

I really enjoyed this book. The book was exciting and kept me interested. I also learned a lot that I did not already know.

I would use this book in a fourth or fifth grade class. This would be a good book to use when learning about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The book gives lots of information which would be helpful to a student on a book report.

[Deb Tyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Wilkes Booth was at the execution of abolitionist John Brown? I did not know this.

Perfect for middle school readers, this book explains many differences between two brothers of the Booth family, Edwin and John.

The Booth Brothers: Drama, Fame, and the Death of President Lincoln would be a good introduction or follow-up to a detailed study of the Civil War and Lincoln's assassination.

Using this book, I will reference several interesting connections between the brothers and Abraham Lincoln when my eighth graders learn about the Civil War and read Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson.

[Kate Waggoner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick and interesting read that is perfect for middle grade readers who are interested in the Civil War or President Lincoln's assassination. This book offers insight into Booth's life prior to his becoming an assassin. It also discusses how his actions affected his family. The book is narrative nonfiction and the author has an engaging voice. The overall set up of the book reminds me of a play where each chapter functions as a "scene" in one or both of the Booth brothers' lives. There is a good balance of information and adventure, so younger readers will stay engaged and probably won't even realize they're learning at the same time.

[Amy Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A look into the lives of two of the three Booth Brothers. All three followed in their father's footsteps and became actors, dividing up the nation so that they would not be in competition with each other. June...in California...plays a very small roll in this book. The storyline centers around Edwin (in the North...who is an abolitionist sympathizer) and John (who is very much NOT an abolitionist...and works mostly in the South....especially Maryland). This protrayal of the brothers gives a behind the scenes look at the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, the subsequent chase for the assassin (John), and the ramification his actions had on the rest of the Booth family.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very interesting and taught me a lot about JWB and the events surrounding Lincoln's assassination. I honestly didn't know JWB had brothers, so being able to read about them was also quite fascinating. It really left me wanting to read more on the subject as this book was just a short overview type of experience.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I love this story! I had no idea how interesting the Booth Brothers story is. The book also offered me so much great information about the plot, first to kidnap but then to assassinate, Abraham Lincoln. Pretty wild!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting historical account of the lives John Wilkes Booth and Edwin Booth. John Wilkes Booth was the assassin who murder Abraham Lincoln. This book gives background of how things led to that point and the effects it had on his family.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was interesting, there wasn’t much development in characters throughout the book because, it happened a long time ago, but it was interesting in the way we got to see the thought process and how Lincoln was close to death 2 times before the assignation.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting but mediocre book comparing the psychotic John Wilkes Booth and his far more mild-mannered brother Edwin. It came across the circ desk at the library and I thought it might be interesting. It was, but apparently there are better books out there about the same topic.

[✧ hayley (the sugar bowl) ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳ 4 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚


this was such a fun, quick read and i learned a lot about the booth’s. i didn’t even know john wilkes booth had a brother before this so i’m really glad i finally decided to pick this up. highly recommend for all ages!!



୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at how the lives of two brothers became larger than ordinary 19th Century life; one, the preeminent Shakespearean actor of his age, the other the greatest assassin of his.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even after reading much about Lincoln's assassination, I learned something new. This is a book I can offer all my students, including reluctant readers.

[Sara Jasinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very concise but very interesting!

[Linda "The Book Lady" Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

In

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - I liked the approach of comparing the brothers. Rarely do you read about the Booth Family and their reaction to Wilkes Booth's actions. It was interesting to get to know John Wilkes in the context of his family and his famous brother.

[Bryce]

It was good.