'Addie Slaughter: The Girl Who Met Geronimo" Lassoes Young Readers With True-Life Wild West Adventure

Online, March 31, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Susan's long years of experience as a reading specialists enables her to write 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 appreciate of Arizona's rich history.
I highly recommend this book... ~Marshall Trimble, Official Arizona State Historian

CHANDLER, AZ - Before most of today's children have spent even one day on their own without a caretaker, young Addie Slaughter braved Indian attacks, outlaws, smallpox, earthquakes and blizzards in Susan L. Krueger's historical chapter book, Addie Slaughter: The Girl Who Met Geronimo, an official Arizona Centennial Legacy Project designated by the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission as authorized by the Arizona Legislature.

In first-person narrative, Krueger expertly speaks for Addie Slaughter, daughter of John Horton Slaughter, a Texas Ranger, the sheriff who tamed Cochise County and an early settler of the San Bernardino Valley in the late 1800s. The adventurous, sometimes heartbreaking, story tells of Addie's trek across the Wild West from Texas to Arizona to Oregon, eventually settling on the Slaughter Ranch near the Arizona-Mexico border. Along the way, her mother dies; she narrowly escapes a stagecoach robbery; her grandfather is rescued when their adobe ranch buildings collapse in an earthquake; her father's earlobe is shot off; and Addie meets the fierce warrior Geronimo.

"I wanted to show young readers that history is anything but boring," explains Krueger a teacher for 32 years before retiring in 2000. "When told with passion and realism, history is exciting, inspiring and captivating."

Krueger's book is based on actual stories told to Adeline Greene Parks by her mother, Addie Slaughter, and in-depth interviews with Arizona Culture Keeper Dr. Reba Wells Grandrud, the John H. Slaughter Ranch historian. Most of the book's photographs come from Slaughter family albums and the collection of Dr. Grandrud.

Though "retired," Krueger works now as much as she ever has. She joined the Phoenix Art Museum docent program and is currently their research chair. In addition to writing research papers, she gives slide show talks and is available for classroom visits to talk about writing, history, art and her book.

"Everyone who worked on this book is proud to have it accepted as an Arizona Centennial Legacy Project," adds Grandrud. "It's a testament to the book's historical significance."

Addie Slaughter: The Girl Who Met Geronimo, (ISBN: 978-1-58985-197-9, $15.95) is a Five Star Publications' product that can be purchased through BarnesandNoble.com , Borders.com , Amazon.com , Walmart.com , Target.com , indiebound.org and FiveStarPublications.com . For more about the book, visit www.AddieSlaughterBook.com. For Arizona Centennial Legacy Project info, visit www.azcentennial.gov . Five Star Publications, which is in its 25th year of doing business in Chandler, Ariz., is reachable at [email protected] , 480-940-8182, or visit www.FiveStarPublications.com.