NONFICTION

Close Calls: How Eleven US Presidents Escaped from the Brink of Death

by Michael P Spradlin
Bloomsbury. Jan. 2020. 128p. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781547600236.
COPY ISBN
Gr 5-8–Tales of survival, near-misses, and sheer determination fill the pages of this collection of 11 stories about 11 different U.S. presidents who had close calls with death, either while in office or before they were elected. These short, readable vignettes are organized chronologically. George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, and the first Bush all faced some very dangerous moments while serving in the military. Jimmy Carter’s near-death experience was one of his own making: He volunteered to go into a failing nuclear reactor to help fix it since he was one of the few people who had the expertise. Spradlin’s engaging accounts are concise and provide some historical context without overwhelming the narrative.
VERDICT A solid choice for libraries looking to add to their narrative history collections.
Reviewed by Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA , Feb 01, 2020

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BLOGS

Making Science Fun and Accessible for Teens and Kids, a guest post by Jorge Cham
by Amanda MacGregor
BOOKS

The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us
by Bergstein, Rachelle
BOOKS

AI for School Leaders: 62 Ways to Lighten Your Workload and Focus on What Matters
by Echols, Vickie F
BOOKS

Strengthening ­Library Ecosystems: Collaborate for Advocacy and Impact
by Hand, Dorcas, Sara Kelly Johns, Michelle ­Robertson and Eryn Duffee
BOOKS

L.M. Montgomery’s Emily of New Moon: A ­Children’s Classic at 100
by Yan Du and Joe Sutliff Sanders, eds
BOOKS

More Ramped-Up Read Alouds: Building Knowledge and Boosting Comprehension
by Walther, Maria
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?