A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary
by Candace Fleming
ages: 10+
First sentence: “I’m an Illinois girl, raised in the very heart of the ‘land of Lincoln.'”
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Everyone knows the story of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. We learn about it in school, all the stories and events that made up their lives. So, really, why do we need yet another biography of them?

That’s the question I asked when I opened this book. And, surprisingly, while I didn’t learn much new information — and most of what I learned was about Mary Lincoln and not Abraham — I did thoroughly enjoy this book.

The book is laid out like old newspapers, complete with photos and different type faces. The stories themselves are short, just snippets and overviews of events. There’s very little that is in-depth here, but then it’s not aiming to be anything more than what it is: an introduction for elementary-age kids. It’s engaging reading, even if the stories aren’t in-depth or new: Fleming has a accessible and engaging writing style. It’s simple without being simplistic.

What I did learn was all about Mary; she seems to have gotten a bad rap in the history books (unsurprisingly). Fleming did much to paint Mary as human (she did much to paint Abraham as human, too; he was not a larger-than-life figure), with faults, yes, but also with many virtues as well. She was a spitfire, someone who was a good companion to her husband. I was amazed at their child-raising habits (very modern, and thus were looked down upon back then), and at the amount of tragedy that Mary had in her life. Sobering, to say the least. It made me curious to read a good biography (if there is one) solely about Mary.

I’m glad I read the book, even if it wasn’t in-depth or enlightening. It’s definitely something I’d recommend to anyone looking for a good overview of the Lincolns.