He Has Shot the President!
April 14, 1865: The Day John Wilkes Booth Killed President Lincoln
by Don Brown
Macmillan 2014
Great fit for 6th grade
Reading level and content both target 4th–8th grade · ages 9–14
Themes include American Civil War aftermath
Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Retailer links may be affiliate links.
Genre
Themes
- leadership and legacy
- justice and accountability
- choices and consequences
- grief and healing
- pursuit and investigation
- American Civil War aftermath
- citizenship and duty
About this book
This fast-paced nonfiction picture book recounts the night President Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theatre and the intense manhunt that followed. Don Brown’s cinematic art and concise storytelling place readers on the scene, showing how news spread and investigators raced to track John Wilkes Booth. It’s an accessible entry point to Civil War–era history, ideal for middle-grade readers who enjoy true stories. Short chapters and dramatic moments make it appealing to history buffs and reluctant readers alike.
Setting: Washington, D.C. (Ford’s Theatre) and the Maryland–Virginia countryside, April 1865
Readers also enjoyed
Frequently Asked Questions
Is He Has Shot the President! right for my child?
Yes — He Has Shot the President! is a great fit for 6th grade. The reading level is AR 6.7, which is typical for 6th grade. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8), meaning the themes and content are designed for ages 9–14 (4th–8th grade). Themes include leadership and legacy, justice and accountability, choices and consequences.
How long does it take to read He Has Shot the President!?
At a typical 6th grade reading pace, He Has Shot the President! takes around 17m to finish. The book has 3,000 words. Slower or faster readers may vary significantly.
Does He Has Shot the President! have an AR quiz?
Yes — He Has Shot the President! has an AR quiz available, worth 0.5 points. Your child will need to take and pass the quiz through their school's Accelerated Reader program to earn credit. The quiz is typically 5–20 multiple choice questions about plot, characters, and setting.
What grade level is He Has Shot the President!?
He Has Shot the President! has an AR reading level of 6.7, which places it at a 6th grade reading difficulty. The interest level is rated Middle Grades (4–8) — this reflects the age-appropriateness of the content and themes, not just the reading difficulty. A strong younger reader may handle the words fine while the themes are aimed at an older audience, or vice versa.