Ambushed
Recommended Ages: 10-14
A Nonfiction read that is for those with an iron stomach.
Can you name the 20th president? I knew James Garfield was an American President but couldn’t remember much about him. I can assure you that anyone who reads this book will never forget who was the 20th American President and the circumstances surrounding his death.
Ambushed! relates not only the details surrounding James Garfield’s rise to political office, but details the back story of Charles Guiteau, the shooter. Another intriguing element of the story is the medical implications of the assassination.
The book opens with James Garfield’s early years and family life as he grew up in Ohio. He later fought in the Civil War and eventually won a political position in Ohio. Jarrow does a great job narrating the events in a way that reads more like a story and not a boring historical textbook narrative. As part of this, she gives insight into the context that eventually builds and leads to Charles’s disgruntled feelings. In particular, the “patronage (or spoils) system” in which “an election’s winning party filled thousands of [governmental] positions” (p.29). Garfield wanted to reform this practice. Unfortunately, it was one of these positions that was sought most desperately by Charles Guiteau.
Charles Guiteau was quite a character and his back story is interesting. The self-delusion is almost stunning, but unfortunately may be all too common with some people. Nevertheless, his defense in trial was claiming insanity. It didn’t work, and he was sentenced to hang. The book does offer an illustration that appeared at the time portraying his execution, his final words, and pictures of his skull and brain from the autopsy (p.182-183). Just to make you aware in case your reader is squeamish or if the subject matter is not something you want your child reading.
Ultimately, James Garfield did not die immediately from his wounds, but suffered throughout the summer of 1881, and there is question about what really killed him. Was it the bullet or was it in the infection that he received from his medical team. Hygiene and medical practices were still developing rapidly during the late 1800s and controversy surrounded different theories. Jarrow discusses the various opinions and insights surrounding the medical decisions and care Garfield received.
Jarrow does a great job of laying out the timeline of events chronologically and in a manner that is easy to understand and engaging for readers. In addition to the narrative style, there are primary pictures, illustrations, and additional insights on different people that are important to the layout of the book itself. These add to the understanding and engagement for the reader.
Occasionally, you will find profanity in some non-fiction pieces, especially when quoting primary source material. Fortunately, none of that appears in this book. What is evident is that James Garfield had his presidency cut too short, and one can only wonder what greater impact he may have had on the nation if he had been fortunate enough to complete his term.
Ambushed! The Assassination Plot Against President Garfield is a wonderful non-fiction book that won the 2022 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award. After finishing this book, it is clear why. Whether you have an avid non-fiction reader or not, I highly recommend giving this book a chance.
