Parent Guide > Last Diary Entry of John Wilkes Booth

by John Wilkes Booth 1865

Welcome to the parent guide for this text! Read below to find out about what your child is reading in class and how you can support him/her at home.

This week in class, we’re reading "Last Diary Entry of John Wilkes Booth" by John Wilkes Booth.

In his final diary entry, John Wilkes Booth justifies his assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and wonders at his fate.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Death, Morality, and Revenge & Betrayal as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"How do people face death?", "Is revenge ever justified?", and "Why do people do bad things?"

Ways to support your child:

  • Ask your child about this primary source document at home:
    • What was "Last Diary Entry of John Wilkes Booth" about?
    • What did you learn about Death?
    • What did you learn about Morality?
    • What did you learn about Revenge & Betrayal?
  • Watch What Booth Said After he Killed Lincoln at home with your child.