Father Abraham: Lincoln and his sons

Harold Holzer

Calkins Creek 2011

9781590783030

Age Recommended for: 5th grade and up. (This is an excellent and readable history for young people.)
Plot Synopsis: Abraham Lincoln became President when our country was divided over the slavery issue. He also lived in a household almost as divided. Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln were parents to four lively and energetic boys. The parenting styles of Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd couldn’t have been more different. He was calm, but also often absent in his children’s lives. Mary Todd Lincoln was hysterical at times, but demonstrative. They both indulged their children way too much to the chagrin of relatives and neighbors! The story follows the Lincolns family history from the birth of their boys to their lives in the White House and afterwards – following four generations of Lincolns. The text includes archival photographs, bibliography, primary source material and index.

What I liked about it and who would enjoy it: Anyone who likes well-written and readable history! What is amazing about reading history is how the problems of previous times are so similar to today. Lincoln was the absentee father and Mary was the neglected wife. There was so much fear and uncertainty that they lived with during their time, as we do today. I learned a lot about what the Lincoln family had to endure during that time, including the fact it was too dangerous for Lincoln and his family to travel together to Washington D. C. for the inauguration! You have to ask yourself why anyone would want to take on the Presidency during that time. Sadly, the Lincoln line died out in the 4th generation. Author Harold Holzer is a leading authority on Lincoln and has written 35 books about him. “Father Abraham: Lincoln and his sons” is a NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children.