An Acquaintance with Darkness

Book #77, An Acquaintance with Darkness by Ann Rinaldi, was a nice weekend read.  I was pleased with the writing style of this author once again.  She does a great job of keeping young readers engaged.  Her historical facts are subtle enough within the plot that young readers learn much about our history without knowing it or without feeling bogged down by facts.  

This story takes place near the end of the Civil War.  President Lincoln has only weeks to live...John Wilkes Booth and other conspirators are working on a plan to kidnap the president.  The main character, Emily Pigbush, has taken a leave from school to care for her dying mother.  Washington D.C. is divided...many families are Secesh.  (Now, I'll be honest.  I had to look that up...it was a term used for someone who supported the South's secession from the Union.)  Emily's father, although many years dead when the book opens, left a legacy of advice for her through stories and nursery rhymes.  "Miss Muffet" was his pet name for her.  I love how the author wove the story of Emily with Lincoln's assassination.  I know the students enjoy learning about the body snatching that took place so frequently during this time as well.

I'm wondering how the students will react to the movie, "The Conspirator", when we watch it together in November?  

Until the next book...
Happy Reading!
RC