Booth's Daughter

by Raymond Wemmlinger

A novel set in the historical context of nineteenth-century New York City, Edwina, daughter of the famous actor Edwin Booth and niece of John Wilkes Booth, finds it difficult to escape the family tragedy and to meet the needs of a demanding father while maintaining her independence.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical

210 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Raymond Wemmlinger is the curator and librarian at The Hampden-Booth Theatre Library, New York City, which specializes in nineteenth-century British and American theater. He has lived his entire life in or around New York City, where most of Booth's Daughter is set.

Reviews

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wemmlinger, Raymond Booth's Daughter, pgs.-210 Publisher-Calkins Creek Publishers. Language- G, Sexual Content- PG, Violence- G;

Edwina Booth's father is Edwin Booth and is known for his many plays that he has done all over the world. Edwina is John Wilkes Booth's niece although she does not remember him she does know what he did to President Lincoln when she was very young. She travels all around the world with her father going to many plays and watching her father act. She gets caught in between wanting to do what is right and stay with her father and sick stepmother or to go live with the love of her life.

I thought that this book was very good. It brought you into the mind of what it would be like to be the Booth family and how hard that would be for the rest of your life.

MS- ESSENTIAL; Student Reviewer: AN
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2007/...

[Katie Teigen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. No plot. Maybe because the author is a man trying to write from the perspective of a woman, but falling short. The scenes he chose to include/exclude were weird.
The most interesting thing about this book was that I started reading it minutes before news broke that President Trump had been shot… so that is spooky.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Citation
Wemmlinger, Raymond. Booth's Daughter. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek, 2007.

Abstract and Mini-Review
This coming-of-age tale describes the life of Edwina Booth. Daughter of the famous Edwin Booth, and niece of the infamous John Wilkes Booth. Growing up under such looming shadows at first seems not quite the struggle that it could have been for Edwina. Edwina knows exactly what to say when her infamous uncle is mentioned--she has no memory, after all she was just three when he died. She seems to relish in her father's fame and her highest hope is to marry an artist such as him. We slowly see how this all may just be a façade, an attempt for Edwina to deal with the madness she is surrounded with. She finds her artist, but his descent into madness causes her pause. Perhaps an artist's life is not her true desire. She is ready to face this truth, but is her father?

Recommendation Justification
Although this book is certainly accessible to a younger audience as indicated by the reading level, younger readers may pick it up and finish it. However, the book begins when the protagonist is 18 and continues until she is 23. The thoughts on madness vs. mental illness may also be a little beyond the comprehension of middle-schoolers as well.

Uses in the Library/Classroom
This could be a book to recommend to the girls who have grown up with the American Girls and are now in high school and seeking additional historical fiction.

Appropriateness of Artwork
Jacket Design: Helen Robinson

The dark shadow behind a stage curtain was simply brilliant. At one point, Edwina's step-mother hides behind the stage curtain, unable to deal with another actress' success. Near the end of the novel, Joseph booth explains that part of John Wilkes darkness was a feeling of being overshadowed by his brother Edwin--both in life and in the theater.

[Charli · Rating 2 out of 5]

SLJ review:

Grade 7 Up—This story, set in the elegant society of the 1880s, keeps readers at a distance that emulates the social period of the times. Despite being told in first person by Edwina, the niece of assassin John Wilkes Booth, the novel retains a detached quality, never showing more than would be polite in mixed company. While her father, Edwin, is a wonderful actor and worthy of accolades, the attention the Booth family receives is more of the "notorious" variety due to their familial association with the man who shot President Lincoln. The teen's desire to be a good, supportive daughter to her temperamental father and mentally unbalanced stepmother overrides standing up for what she believes is most important in her life: getting married to Downing Vaux and beginning her own family. Circumstances make Edwina's plans spiral out of control, leaving her with no choice but to follow her father's arrangement of her life. Wemmlinger presents an interesting picture of upper middle class existence in this debut novel set at a time when women were just beginning to see themselves as autonomous. Thoughtful teens will enjoy Booth's Daughter.—Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI

[Shea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was, in my opinion, good. But, I feel like you have to like books written in this style to enjoy it. It takes place mid-1800s after the Civil War and the assassination of President Lincoln. This is a big theme in this book because the main character, Edwina, is the niece of John Wilkes Booth. She strives to learn more information on her Uncle. Her father doesn't talk of him much, and she thirsts for the knowledge of her uncle.

Though the book focuses around Edwina and her father, Edwin, there are other characters that pop up along the way. Personally, I fell in love with the character of Downing. I won't reveal too much here, but he is described later as a mentally ill person.

The pair of Edwina and Edwin are travelers, as Edwin is a star performer and he plays to audiences all over the world. We do not know much of Edwina's mother other than she died giving birth. There is a step-mother in the story. Not an evil one, but one that is a mother to Edwina. But she, too, eventually passes. This leaves Edwin with the fear of living alone without his daughter, and an even worse thought, dying alone.

Well, this is my first review. I hope you enjoy it! :)

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical factual book on Booth's daughter was a bit dry in terms because of the time setting being in 1800s. There was alot of character growth from Edwina, although I wouldn't suggest this for only teens as the facts in the novel show her as a strong ndividual. The author sure takes his seet time relaying the events in a very boring manner. Although it was boring fo me, I liked the ending where she found a spot to start anew as her self, even though she still took note o her family and friends. I found it to be a rich layered novel, opening many doors to see how one's life can com in many envelopes, but a delightful read.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice historical fiction. If you'd like more about the Booth family the book "Good Brother, Bad Brother" is an excellent biography of the family for young readers.

I Googled "Edwina Booth Grossman" after reading this. I didn't find much, but I did find the NY Times article on her wedding to Ignatius Grossman, with the sweet note that they were married under a floral canopy bearing a Hungarian word meaning "forever". A pity that wasn't included in this book!

[bjneary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edwina Booth is the daughter of actor, Edwin Booth and the neice of Lincoln assassin, John Wilkes Booth. The writing is in the style of the late 1800’s which makes it a little dry but Edwina’s life and love is complicated and tested by historical events. Her life is further complicated by her father needing her and Edwina’s anguish in choosing between family and happiness.
Good nonfiction read to cpmlpement this : Good Brother Bad Brother.

[SR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one. There was a nice slow, strong buildup of tension between Edwina and her father - rather, between Edwina and how she thought her father would react. It was a very realistic portrayal of what it's like to be completely absorbed by another person out of habit, with good commentary on familial pressure.

And the romance was completely believable, which was nice.

[Whitney Borde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this historical fiction. Although it did not involve Abraham Lincoln or John Wilkes Booth directly I still learned more about that story line. The main character is the niece of John Wilkes Booth. This story takes place years after the assassination of Lincoln. To this day I still find myself thinking of this novel and all it has taught me!

[Sharebear · Rating 3 out of 5]

eh

[Wendroz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly entertaining.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book to get a flavor of the historical fiction published by Caulkins Creek. This book contained some interesting history but the story that tried to pull these facts together was boring.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

i got reaaalllllyy bored and couldnt even finish this book ... sad face :(

[Alexandra Stafford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this well-researched book especially since it pertains to a subject matter in which I am interested.