This year marks the 50th anniversary of the earth-shattering day that President John F. Kennedy was fatally shot while riding in a motorcade during a campaign trip to Dallas, Texas. Premiering in theaters on October 4th, Parkland (PG-13) recounts the harrowing events of November 22, 1963, from the viewpoints of ordinary individuals who find themselves abruptly thrust onto the stage of history.
Intertwined within the film are the perspectives of the doctors and nurses at Parkland Hospital, where Kennedy was rushed after the shooting; the Secret Service agent in charge of the Dallas district; the amateur cameraman who caught some of the most sought-after and 
scrutinized footage ever made; the FBI agents who had interrogated Lee Harvey Oswald and then released him; the president’s security team; and more. The action unfolds with heart-pounding immediacy, as the featured characters react to the crisis with shock, outrage, fortitude, and heroism. Zac Efron, Marcia Gay Harden, Billy Bob Thornton, Jacki Weaver, and Paul Giamatti headline the talented ensemble cast. The film is based on Vincent Bugliosi’s book, Four Days in November (2007), which has been re-issued with a movie tie-in cover and re-titled Parkland (2013, both W.W. Norton).
Gripping Nonfiction Reads
Commemorate the semicentennial of this momentous event with stellar nonfiction titles for teens that will inform film viewers curious to know more, captivate history buffs, and provide insights for classroom exploration and research projects.
Beginning with succinct chapters about Kennedy and his administration, the bulk of James L. Swanson’s “The President Has Been Shot!” (Scholastic, 2013; Gr 6 Up) zooms in on the assassination and its aftermath. The well-written narrative balances in-depth research and illuminating details with the suspenseful pacing and dramatic urgency of a crime thriller. Delving into the shadowy background and murky motives of Oswald, Swanson paints a portrait of “a malcontent with a chip on his shoulder,” a self-styled intellectual who dreamed big but “failed at everything he had ever attempted.” The moment-by-moment account switches back and forth between the perspectives of the assassin and the individuals riding in the motorcade as the happenings unfold before readers’ eyes. Throughout, Swanson identifies “staggering” coincidences, fateful decisions, and unfortunate missteps that contribute to the tragic chain of events. The detailed coverage also includes the swearing in of Lyndon B. Johnson, the capture and on-camera shooting of Oswald, and the president’s funeral, carefully orchestrated by a distraught Jackie Kennedy. An epilogue treats the Warren Report and touches upon Kennedy’s legacy. Numerous archival black-and-white photos, many taken on that ill-fated day, add resonance and detail to the text, and a section of diagrams and illustrations provide additional information. Thoughtful and thorough, Swanson’s account deftly draws teens into the particulars and emotions of the moment, resulting in a look at history that is both revealing and riveting. Also available in audio version.
Bill O’Reilly’s Kennedy’s Last Days: The Assassination That Defined a Generation (Holt, 2013; Gr 5 Up) pairs staccato chapters with a striking selection of archival photographs. The author provides a fast-reading introduction to Kennedy, his rise to the presidency, and the highlights of his administration, including the Bay of Pigs invasion, Cuban Missile Crisis, civil rights conflicts, and the 1963 March on Washington. Interspersed are concurrent glimpses at the life of Lee Harvey Oswald as he defects to and returns from the Soviet Union, drifts from job to job, is left by his Russian wife, and takes a menial post at the Texas School Book Depository. The book culminates with the events of November 22, 1963, as their paths collide with devastating results. Well-chosen black-and-white photos grace almost every page, and a full-color unset features photos off the first family. The side-by-side depictions of the doings of these two very different men—one an intelligent and accomplished world leader and the other a longtime loser with delusions of grandeur—makes for a mesmerizing and informative read. The book is also available in audio version (Macmillan Audio), and a teacher’s guide can be downloaded at the publisher’s website.
Soon to be re-issued in paperback, Ilene Cooper’s Jack: The Early Years of John F. Kennedy (Dutton, 2003; Gr 7 Up) focuses on JFK’s childhood and adolescence. Readers meet a spirited, though often sickly youngster with a winning personality who always seemed destined to play second fiddle to his much-accomplished older brother. Though the Kennedy offspring lived a life of privilege, they were expected to follow strict household rules and meet the high expectations of their demanding father, Joseph (“We want winners in this house, not losers”). Handily setting events in the historical and social context of the times, Cooper provides a vivid look at the family relationships, boyhood challenges, and notable experiences that would help define Kennedy’s character. Quotes and anecdotes from family members and close associates are sprinkled throughout, along with numerous black-and-white photos and reproductions of letters. Jack, with his passion for reading, “happy-go-lucky veneer,” and proclivity for getting into trouble, comes across as a likable young man, and teens will enjoy making his acquaintance.
Go Back to 1963…
Set in the early 1960s, these captivating novels transport readers to days of bouffant hairdos and bellbottom jeans, bomb shelters and air-raid drills, civil rights clashes and Cold War anxiety.
It’s the fall of 1962, and Franny has been bombarded with dilemmas—her best friend has suddenly turned spiteful, her college-age sister has a mysterious secret, her elderly uncle’s behavior is becoming increasingly outlandish (and mortifying), and a cute boy has just moved back to her suburban Maryland town. Meanwhile, everyone is keeping an eye cocked for falling bombs and duck-and-cover drills are part of a typical school day. Doomsday seems even more imminent when President Kennedy informs the American public that Russia is sending nuclear missiles to Cuba. How will Franny find hope for the future? In Countdown (Scholastic, 2010; Gr 5-8), Deborah Wiles balances her protagonist’s personal crises with a compelling depiction of the era. Scattered throughout this “documentary novel’s” first-person narrative are an abundance of archival photographs, newspaper clippings, speech excerpts, safety pamphlets, song lyrics, profiles of famous people, and more. Image-heavy and aptly chosen, these primary source materials add punch to the text and plunge readers into Franny’s world.
Fiona is of Irish descent and Yolanda is African American. Having met at their Bronx, NY, public school, the two eighth graders forged a bond, despite their different backgrounds and the fact that many people—including family members and peers—believe that friendship should not cross the racial divide. The daughter of a violently abusive, alcoholic father, Fiona’s family life is a disaster, while Yolanda constantly deals with prejudice; both girls feel like outsiders and value the understanding and acceptance their camaraderie brings. However, when the popular white girls take an interest in Fiona, her relationship with Yolanda is put to the test. Set against an emotionally charged mural of social issues, family struggles, and coming-of-age concerns, Mary Ann McGuigan’s Morning in a Different Place (Front Street, 2009; Gr 7-9) comes to a climax on the day of Kennedy’s assassination. Inspired by the never-back-down Yolanda, Fiona finally realizes that she must find the strength to take a stand and bring about change…in her own family and in society at large.
Not only does sixth-grader Ellie reside on Witch Tree Lane—a cul-de-sac populated by families considered social outcasts by the conservative residents of small-town Spectacle, NY—but she also lives in a state of constant embarrassment brought on by the antics of her flamboyant mother (the self-dubbed Doris Day Dingman), a would-be starlet whose brazen tackiness is equaled only by her flippant neglectfulness. Ellie is the one who takes on household chores and looks after her siblings. Viciously bullied at school along with her best friend Holly, Ellie is also disturbed by the hate crimes that have been occurring on her street. When President Kennedy is shot, the family is devastated, and Doris, realizing that time is fleeting, departs for the razzle-dazzle of New York City to launch her career. It’s heart-wrenching to be abandoned, but Ellie finds comfort and strength in family and friends. Ultimately, she emerges from the over-inflated shadow of her mother to discover that her life is not empty but delightfully full. Poignant and uplifting, Ann M. Martin’s Here Today (Scholastic, 2004; Gr 6-8) features a likable protagonist and a compelling portrayal of the era.
Grounded for his alleged misdeeds, 12-year-old Jack is spending the summer of 1962 under house arrest, excavating for the family bomb shelter and trying to lay low. Of course he jumps at the opportunity to help his elderly neighbor, whose crippling arthritis has made her job as town coroner, obituary writer, and historian difficult. Under the tutelage of the feisty Miss Volker, Jack soon learns that Norvelt, PA—a community of cooperative homesteads launched during the Great Depression under the auspices of Eleanor Roosevelt—has a fascinating past…and a far-from-boring present marked by hostile visits from the Hells Angels, oddball adventures involving dead bodies (frequently triggering Jack’s stress-induced nosebleeds), and even a murder mystery. Filled with delightfully quirky characters, slice-of-life details, and madcap laugh-out-loud antics, Jack Gantos’s Dead End in Norvelt (FSG, 2011; Gr 5-9) also emphasizes coming-of-age themes, encourages contemplation of political principles (Jack’s mother believes in Norvelt’s extend-a-helping-hand ideals while his father calls it a “Commie town” and can’t wait to fly the coop), and underscores the importance of knowing about—and learning from—history, a message particularly pertinent in this year of anniversaries. An audio version is available from Macmillan Audio, and educators can download a teacher’s guide. Jack’s escapades continue in From Norvelt to Nowhere (2013, both FSG).
Publication Information
SWANSON, James L. “The President Has Been Shot!”: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy. Scholastic. Sept. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-545-49007-8; Audio Library Ed. $39.99. ISBN 978-0-545-60276-1.
O’REILLY, Bill. Kennedy’s Last Days: The Assassination That Defined a Generation. Holt. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9802-0. ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9974-4; Audio CD. $19.99. ISBN 9781427235169. (Macmillan Audio).
COOPER, Ilene. Jack: The Early Years of John F. Kennedy. Puffin/Penguin. Oct. 2013. pap. $12.99. ISBN 9780147510310.
WILES, Deborah. Countdown. Scholastic. 2010. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-10605-4; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-545-10606-1.
MCGUIGAN, Mary Ann. Morning in a Different Place. Front Street. 2009. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-551-5.
MARTIN, Ann M. Here Today. Scholastic. 2004. pap. $7.99. ISBN 9780439579452.
GANTOS, Jack. Dead End in Norvelt. FSG. 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780374379933; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-1-250-01023-0 (Square Fish); Audio version. $29.99. ISBN 9781427213563 (Macmillan Audio).