Addie Slaughter: The Girl Who Met Geronimo

ISBN: 1589851978

Author: Susan L. Krueger

Condition: New

'Addie Slaughter' Lassoes Young Readers With True-Life Wild West Adventure Indian attacks, outlaws, rattlesnakes, smallpox and blizzards are a few of the true-to-life dangers experienced by Addie Slaughter, daughter of the famous John Horton Slaughter, a Texas Ranger, famed Cochise County Sheriff and an early settler of the San Bernardino Valley in the late 1800s. In first-person narrative, author Susan Krueger, Ed.D., expertly speaks for Addie, who tells her adventurous, sometimes heartbreaking, story of traveling across the wild west from Texas to Arizona to Oregon, and then eventually settling on the Slaughter Ranch near the Arizona-Mexico border. Along the way, Addie's mother dies; her family narrowly escapes a stagecoach robbery; her grandfather is rescued when their adobe ranch buildings collapse in a terrible earthquake; when pursuing a member of the Jack Taylor Gang, her father's earlobe is shot off; and Addie meets the powerful warrior, Geronimo. Based on actual stories told to Adeline Greene Parks by her mother, Addie Slaughter, and in-depth interviews with Arizona Culturekeeper Dr. Reba Wells Grandrud, the John H. Slaughter ranch historian, Addie Slaughter: The Girl Who Met Geronimo, succeeds in capturing the interest and imagination of young readers due to its youthful voice, colorful descriptions and exciting recount of actual events. most of the book's photographs come from Slaughter family albums and the collection of Dr. Grandrud. "Addie was the daughter of the John Slaughter who owned the old San Bernardino Spanish Land Grant straddling the Arizona-Mexican border. I visited the ranch a few years ago and it is a desert oasis to behold. Thousands of people visit the historic ranch and this book would certainly sell well in their gift shop. Susan's book is designed for fourth to seventh grades and is based on true stories told by Addie to her daughter. These stories are enhanced by Dr. Reba Grandrud, renowned research historian and someone I've known for more than 40 years. She was involved with the restoration of the historic ranch in the 1990s. I spend a lot of time during the school year as state historian visiting fourth grade classes and I always take the time to look at their library collection of books on Arizona. There are a limited number of good books on Arizona that are written through the eyes of someone their own age. Written with Addie in the first person, students learn what it was like to be a young girl as an eyewitness to the town of Tombstone and experiencing rattlesnakes, outlaws, earthquakes, smallpox and Indian attacks, including meeting the legendary Apache war chief, Geronimo. Addie certainly lived the life of a young dime-novel heroine. Susan's long years of experience as a reading specialist enables her to write at a proper reading level while Dr. Grandrud' s expertise assures historical accuracy. The two combined create a wonderful book that will certainly enhance the learning and appreciation of Arizona's rich history. I highly recommend this book" ~Marshall Trimble Official Arizona State Historian "This "chapter" book, as called by students and teachers, is based on the exemplary research of Dr. Reba Wells Grandrud. The oral history of Addie Slaughter is told by Susan Krueger through the eyes of a child to children throughout Arizona now and in future generations. Children will become acquainted with Addie and learn of her real-life adventures as the daughter of John and Viola Slaughter living in Tombstone and on the Slaughter Ranch. Addie Slaughter: The Girl Who Met Geronimo is an excellent opportunity for children to become inspired to tell and write their own life stories. Perhaps some of those experiences will be published for Arizona's Bicentennial." ~Gwen Robinson Retired educator and former Director of Education for the Arizona Historical Society Museum in Tempe