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'The
Year of the Hangman'
[DEC.
11, 2002] "The
Year of the Hangman," by Gary Blackwood, Dutton Children’s Books, 2002,
261 pages.
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Most children grow up learning to play
the guessing game of "Hangman." The leader chooses a famous
personage while the player tries to guess who was chosen by calling
out letters to spell the name. For each wrong guess the leader draws
part of a stick figure to suspend from his miniature gallows drawn
in the form of the number seven. The player becomes the leader if he
successfully guesses the identity of the personage before the
complete stick figure can be drawn.
![](../images/121102pics/hangmanlg.jpg)
Containing three sevens, the symbol of
the hangman, 1777 was an era of fierce loyalties either to the
English crown or to the new, fledgling country of America. Men who
once considered themselves British now were revolutionaries, and
even loyal British soldiers began to question England’s tactics
against the colonists. Many men of both countries faced being
condemned traitors and facing the hangman’s noose.
The winter of 1776 found Gen.
Washington in dire circumstances. Major defeats had cost him
thousands of soldiers, the one-year enlistment was up for most of
his troops, and the British at one time captured him in battle. What
may have happened if Washington had not been freed? What if other
national leaders took other paths?
In Gary Blackwood’s latest novel for
young adults (seventh grade and up), we experience that "alternate
history." Mr. Blackwood asks us to suspend our memory of 1777
history and introduces us to Creighton Brown, a young British
gentleman of noble birth whose father has been sent to fight the
rebels in America.
Word has reached England that his
honorable and courageous father was killed in battle. Creighton’s
mother sadly lacks the ability to discipline her son or keep him
from gambling and drinking with his friends. With the aid of her new
suitor, Charlotte Brown has her son kidnapped and shipped to her
brother’s care in America.
[to top of second column in
this review] |
![](../images/ads/prairie_years/Prairie_years_ad.gif)
Arriving in Charles Town as his uncle,
Col. Gower, is leaving for assignment in Florida, Creighton finds
himself in even deeper problems. During the voyage to Florida,
privateers attack the vessel on which the group is sailing. Captured
by the patriot Benedict Arnold, Col. Gower informs the rebels that
Creighton is his indentured servant, leaving his nephew free to move
among the Americans.
Creighton finds himself housed in the
New Orleans home of Ben Franklin. Although unaccustomed to manual
labor of any kind, Creighton enjoys working in the printing shop
along with Franklin and the Canadian refugee, Sophie. He also
regrets spying for his uncle when the results harm his new friends.
Another twist of fate takes Creighton on an assignment with Gen.
Benedict Arnold as a spy for the Americans.
Blackwood’s well-rounded characters,
believable dialogue and humor combine to make history an exciting
adventure involving real people like ourselves. He introduces both
issues of a new nation and those of a young man in search of his own
beliefs.
For this and
more books by Blackwood, visit the library at 725 Pekin St. or call
732-8878.
[Louella Moreland, Lincoln
Public Library District] |
![](../images/ads/DARE/Dare_01_01.gif) |
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Champion trees featured in book
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[DEC.
7, 2002]
After five years of
exhaustive research, Larry P. Mahan has completed his book, "In
Search of Large Trees," which includes 100 color pictures of notable
tree specimens from central and southern Illinois.
During this research he traveled over
7,000 miles searching for large trees. He has registered 22 Illinois
"Big Tree Champions," including a sycamore that is the largest tree
of any kind in the state and a black oak that is the largest of any
oak in Illinois and the second largest black oak in the United
States.
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Many outstanding species of trees from
central and southern Illinois communities are featured with
photographs and text. Mahan also chronicles his personal experiences
during his research and includes information for identifying the
different tree species.
People
interested in purchasing a copy of "In Search of Large Trees" may
contact him by mail to 27555 Deep Rock Station Road, Palmyra, IL or
call (217) 436-2016.
[News
release] |
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LCT 2003 season
[DEC.
9, 2002]
Lincoln Community Theatre is
pleased to announce three productions selected for the summer of
2003.
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Kicking off the 32nd season of live
theater for the Lincoln community will be the hilarious musical "Nuncrackers."
This fun-filled show is a continuation of the antics of the
dauntless, darling nuns of Mount St. Helen’s Convent who delighted
Lincoln audiences in the "Nunsense" series several summers ago.
Audience participation, one-liners, a rum-soaked fruitcake, dueling
sugar plum fairies and dear Sister Amnesia will definitely start the
summer theatrical season with humor and fun.
The July production, "Steel Magnolias,"
is one of our best ensemble productions. The familiar, bittersweet
story touches all the emotional peaks and valleys of life in a small
Southern community. From wise-cracking Truvy to unsure Annelle, the
characters in this poignant play promise to touch everyone with both
laughter and tears.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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Ending the season on a patriotic note,
LCT’s final production of the summer will be "1776," a stirring, yet
humorous musical featuring a large cast representing our founding
fathers. Humor abounds with fast-paced dialogue involving Ben
Franklin, Henry Lee and other early congressional characters, along
with catchy, patriotic music.
To kick off
the holiday season, Lincoln Community Theatre is offering holiday
gift certificates for season memberships for the summer 2003 season.
Certificates can be mailed directly to the receiver or to the gift
giver. Certificates for adult memberships are $20 each, and those
for children through eighth grade are $12 each. Requests for gift
certificates may be sent to LCT, Box 374, Lincoln, IL 62656. Further
information is available at (217) 732-7542 or by visiting the LCT
website,
www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre.
[Judy Rader, LCT publicity
chairman] |
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seen all over Logan County?
Advertise with
Lincoln Daily News!
Call (217)
732-7443
or e-mail
ads@lincolndailynews.com |
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Lincoln Community Theatre
information
Lincoln
Community Theatre’s box office, phone
735-2614, is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through
Saturday for the summer season. The office is located in the lobby
of the Johnston Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of
Lincoln College.
Performances of
"Dearly Departed" are scheduled for July 12-20, and "The King and I"
will be presented Aug. 2-10. Show times are 2 p.m. on Sundays and 8
p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
The LCT mailing address is Lincoln Community Theatre, P.O. Box 374, Lincoln,
IL 62656; e-mail: lincolncommunitytheatre@yahoo.com.
Visit the
LDC website at www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre/index.html.
Pictures from past productions are included.
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