Abraham Lincoln grew up with a father who preferred he work with his body instead of using his mind. Young Lincoln, though, left home to pursue odd jobs until he entered politics, where he gained the self-confidence to continually better himself through education and his dream of becoming a lawyer. In this latest of Kanefield's The Making of America series, readers will learn not only of Lincoln's legacy but also of his battles with depression and anxiety. Kanefield takes primary source material to help portray Lincoln from an early age until his death, analyzing anecdotes (like Lincoln not attending his father's funeral) along with historical interpretation of those stories. Along the way, readers will see how his early beliefs transformed into his later politics. Interspersed are bird's-eye views of how the nation was dealing with slavery, with such events as the Dred Scott decision and the Battle of the Alamo. A multifaceted, humanistic portrayal of our sixteenth president.

Kanefield offers a thoroughly researched and often moving introduction to President Lincoln's life and family. She also succinctly clarifies convoluted nineteenth-century politics and the historical importance of complex, contentious issues (e.g., the Missouri Compromise; the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision) that divided Americans and resulted in the Civil War. Numerous primary source quotes and well-captioned photos, drawings, and documents aid the narrative. Timeline. Bib., ind.

The presidency of Abraham Lincoln and the many constitutional issues it dealt with are explored in this book for young readers.Abraham Lincoln, born 20 years after the U.S. Constitution was ratified, served one term in Congress but twice lost bids for the Senate. However, the political volatility of the times and the growing debate concerning slavery as the country expanded into new territories (displacing Native peoples) provided the opportunity for Lincoln to rise. Lincoln's election was seen as a direct threat to the slaveholding South, and a month after his inauguration, the Civil War began, plunging the country into "its greatest constitutional crisis." In this third volume of the Making of America series, Kanefield continues to examine constitutional issues through the lives of important political figures. Here she also looks at Lincoln's views on slavery, the rights of black Americans, and the various views of Lincoln scholars on these topics. The work makes clear that despite the constitutional end to slavery through the 13th Amendment, the country did not embrace full citizenship for African-Americans. This concise and balanced narrative encapsulates the life and legacy of one of the country's most important leaders. As in others in the series, Lincoln's own words are used liberally, giving a sense of the way he thought and expressed himself. A solid addition for understanding America's story. (source notes, timeline, selected writings, a bibliography, index) (Biography. 10-14)

Gr 5 Up-The author adroitly reviews the facts of Lincoln's entire life, divided into 16 chapters, and examines his emergence as a politician and his views on slavery. Kanefield covers his rise as a successful lawyer to his serving in the Illinois legislature and one term in the U.S. House of Representatives. His run for the U.S. Senate in 1858 thrust Lincoln into the national spotlight. The author makes clear that Lincoln's firm devotion to the principles of the Declaration of Independence and his belief that all men were entitled to the fruits of their labors guided his presidency as he led the nation toward the abolition of slavery. The author utilizes quotes from a variety of sources, including Michael Burlingame's Abraham Lincoln: A Life, and covers a wide range of historical issues, giving readers a sense of the complexity of Lincoln's time and the issues that divided the United States. Selected writings of Lincoln complete the back matter. It should be noted that factual errors exist throughout: Willie Lincoln was age 11 when he died, not age seven; and Ulysses Grant was a native of Ohio, not New York. VERDICT Libraries satisfied with the other titles in the series will probably want to add this volume to their collection. Patricia Ann Owens, formerly at Illinois Eastern Community College, Mt. Carmel