Scan barcode
shighley's review
2.0
One of the most boring biographies of Lincoln I've read. The prose seems too stilted and mundane. It felt like the author was putting words in Lincoln's mouth as well, although I realize exact quotes were denoted by punctuation. Compared to the impressive painting on the cover, the text was a letdown.
bjr2022's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Julie Grippo for her wonderful review of this children's book. I would never have taken it out of the library without Julie's essay.
Having read it, I'm left frustrated that I can't will Lincoln back to life so I can talk to him. First, I'd like to hear anything he'd have to say about our present politics. And then, what he thinks of all the books about him. (This one is a superb introduction for children and the illustrations are luscious.) And then I'd have some serious questions for him:
In the last few decades, I've been being schooled on our real American history of genocide of the Natives, stealing their land, etc. I've read one book after another detailing the legacy of suffering that today's Native peoples are still negotiating. When I read Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals, my frustration piqued at yet another big omission vis a vis Natives in American history. Lincoln eschewed the Mexican American war, clearly stating that it was wrong to take land from Mexico and that the war was a land grab. Yet there was nothing about what people had done to create this country and continued to do as the West was taken over by Europeans. In this book, too, there is of course his important stance on slavery. There are pictures of black people and white people next to text about "the sparkling call for equality and dignity for each person emblazoned in the Declaration of Independence . . ." yet still no recognition of the ongoing genocide of Natives. So, Mr. Lincoln, please talk to me in my dreams and tell me about this. I long to know your thoughts.
Having read it, I'm left frustrated that I can't will Lincoln back to life so I can talk to him. First, I'd like to hear anything he'd have to say about our present politics. And then, what he thinks of all the books about him. (This one is a superb introduction for children and the illustrations are luscious.) And then I'd have some serious questions for him:
In the last few decades, I've been being schooled on our real American history of genocide of the Natives, stealing their land, etc. I've read one book after another detailing the legacy of suffering that today's Native peoples are still negotiating. When I read Doris Kearns Goodwin's Team of Rivals, my frustration piqued at yet another big omission vis a vis Natives in American history. Lincoln eschewed the Mexican American war, clearly stating that it was wrong to take land from Mexico and that the war was a land grab. Yet there was nothing about what people had done to create this country and continued to do as the West was taken over by Europeans. In this book, too, there is of course his important stance on slavery. There are pictures of black people and white people next to text about "the sparkling call for equality and dignity for each person emblazoned in the Declaration of Independence . . ." yet still no recognition of the ongoing genocide of Natives. So, Mr. Lincoln, please talk to me in my dreams and tell me about this. I long to know your thoughts.
More...