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About The Lynching Of Louie Sam
Product Description Murder, racism, and injustice wreak havoc in a frontier town. The year is 1884, and 15-year-old George Gillies lives in the Washington Territory, near the border with British Columbia. In this newly settled land, white immigrants have an uneasy relationship with the Native Indians. When George and his siblings discover the murdered body of a local white man, suspicion immediately falls on a young Indian named Louie Sam. George and his best friend, Pete, follow a lynch mob north into Canada, where the terrified boy is seized and hung. But even before the deed is done, George begins to have doubts. Louie Sam was a boy, only 14could he really be a vicious murderer? Were the mob leaders motivated by justice, or were they hiding their own guilt? As George uncovers the truth, tensions in the town begin to rise, and he must face his own part in the tragedy. Inspired by the true story of the lynching, recently acknowledged as a historical injustice by Washington State, this powerful novel offers a stark depiction of historical racism and the harshness of settler life. From School Library Journal Gr 6-9-George Gillies, 15, witnesses a lynching the night he follows a mob of settlers to the International Border between the Washington Territory and Canada. Intent on justice for the murder of a white man, the mob seizes an Indian boy who is in the custody of Canadian officials and suspected of the crime. It is February 27, 1884, and the relationship between the Native tribes and settlers is tense. George, moved by the anger and excitement of the mob, ignores observations that support Louie Sam's innocence, choosing to believe that justice has been served. After the lynching, he encounters rumors and pieces of evidence that leave him confused. Has the mob murdered an innocent 14-year-old? Almost everyone in his town seems determined to bury the truth: Who actually murdered Mr. Bell, who led the mob, and what actually happened the night of the lynching? Eventually George cannot continue to conceal what he knows, and the consequences for him and his family are severe. Stewart takes on the daunting task of reflecting the period's social history through a single incident, and sometimes her characters must represent large and disparate groups of people. This can lead to didactic moments, especially when the Native American characters speak, but it also serves as context for a little-known and disturbing true story. The plot moves quickly and should interest many readers, even those not usually drawn to historical fiction. The violence and tragedy are balanced by a bit of romance, which will make this title a good recommendation for middle school and early high school readers.-Caroline Hanson, Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School, Washington, DCα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Review A chilling, captivating novel about an innocent scapegoat, a searing injustice and the far-reaching damage secrets and lies do. (Christina Minaki Canadian Children's Book News) Stewart takes all the history she can find and works to craft a novel from it... Her writing is clean and fluid and her attention to historical detail admirable. ( Kirkus Reviews 2012-09-15) The plot moves quickly and should interest many readers, even those not usually drawn to historical fiction. (Caroline Hanson School Library Journal 2012-09-01) A chilling, captivating novel about an innocent scapegoat, a searing injustice and the far-reaching damage secrets and lies do. (Christina Minaki Canadian Children's Book News 2012-11-01) Elizabeth Stewart has crafted a compelling young adult novel centred on important themes of racism, justice and personal responsibility. These important themes are deftly developed; the tone never becomes preachy or pedantic. Strong curricular ties to both English and social studies programmes will appeal to teachers. The Lync
