Abraham Lincoln (In Their Own Words)

I must agree with another reviewer who stated that this is probabl one of the best biographies of Abraham Lincoln for young people available today. This one has indeed been out for a while but it is certainly none the worse for wear. The book is very well researched, the text is easy to follow and the author's contunual use of direct quotes makes the reader feel apart of the story. I truely feel that the understanding of the great men and women of our past goes along way in developing good, solid and useful adults when studied by the young. Books such as this go along way in making that happen. Of the several biographies written for this age group addressing Lincoln, this is by far the best. I highly recommend this one.

"More books have been written about Lincoln than any other American," says Sullivan in his biography of our sixteenth President. Not all of them are well done - but this one is excellent and deserves a place on the shelf next to Freedman's Caldecott award-wining Lincoln: A Photobiography (Houghton Mifflin, 1987). Sullivan defines primary and secondary sources, then describes the life and times of Lincoln with a liberal sprinkling of quotes from the President and those who knew him. Excerpts from Lincoln's speeches, letters, and other writings are included, explained, and set into context. The Gettysburg address is reproduced in its brief but effective entirety. The book also gives relates the major events of the Civil War. The writing is simple and uncluttered, and the oversized text and well-spaced lines make for easy reading. Photos and illustrations add to the narrative without distracting. Chapters are tight and concise, and the design (a mix of contemporary borders with Lincoln's handwriting gracing new chapters) is the perfect blend of old and new. The book meets the usual 100 page requirement for biographies for middle school reports; teachers who may be turned off by the large print and compact size will appreciate the attention to detail as well as the scholarly chronology, bibliography, further reading, photo credits, and index. Pair this fine example of citing sources, acknowledging other points of view and relaying research from primary sources with Holzer's Abraham Lincoln the Writer (Boyds Mill Press 2000).