About the Author

Jessica Gunderson grew up in the small town of Washburn, North Dakota. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota and an MFA in Creative Writing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has written more than one hundred books for young readers. Her book President Lincoln's Killer and the America He Left Behind won a 2018 Eureka! Nonfiction Children's Book Silver Award. She currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Reviews

This book has a lot of interesting facts. The original idea for the carving didn't include presidents, they were going to carve western heroes. Most of the carving was done with dynamite, not picks and drills. The design had to be changed many times because the rocks cracked, were too soft, or had other problems. I really liked the book because it gave facts about how the land was taken and how the monument was built.-- "San Francisco Book Review"

This fascinating series delves into the shadows of some of America's most iconic monuments to reveal the intrigue, conflict, and scandal that surrounded their construction. A host of design elements are sure to keep readers engaged. . . .An expertly curated collection of photos, drawings, and ephemera round out each title with flair and substance. . . .Concise but informative, this series is a valuable addition to most collections.-- "School Library Journal"