As a former history teacher I was so excited when I saw this book! It did not disappoint and is one of the best nonfiction books that I have read in quite some time, Miller's narrative transports the reader to 1865 to Lincoln's assassination, the attack on William Seward (Secretary of State), and the events that followed including the arrest and trial of those thought to be involved. Miller thoroughly chronicles the proceedings especially those that related to Mary Surratt who ran the boarding house where many of the conspirators, including her son, met to form their plans. Witness accounts are evaluated and facts are laid out leaving the reader wondering if Mary Surratt was aware of what was going on under her roof and if she helped the conspirators carry out the plan.. Miller does an excellent job exposing the many injustices that took place including the horrid prison conditions the accused were subjected to. I believe students who love history will be drawn to this book and find it enjoyable and hard to put down..

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order this year and will recommend it to students.

The YA Historical Fiction book, Hanged', by Sarah Miller is an engaging book on Mary Surratt, the first woman to be executed by the United States for her role in President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. The mother of one of the co-conspirators with John Wilkes Booth (JWB), her son who also a Confederate Secret Service courier during the Civil War. The co-conspirators were known to have met at her Maryland boarding house, but there remains a debate as to how involved the Widow Surratt was in the planning and implementation of the assassination of Lincoln and the attempted assignation of other leaders.
An area of interest to YA readers will likely be how the prisoners were treated as they were held for trial, how quickly the trial took place, and the way in which they were tried. Normal court protocols were not followed as the believed co-conspirators were tried by a military tribunal rather than in criminal court. The release of this book at shortly after Booth by Karen Joy Fowler will allow YA readers delve deeper into the lives of the individuals involved in this tragic event in our history. Thank you NetGalley.