Suggested Readings for Middle School & High School
- Abraham Lincoln, The Writer: A Treasury of His Greatest Speeches and
Letters, compiled and edited by Harold Holzer. Boyds Mills, 2000.
Gr. 6-8.
This fascinating resource helps shape a balanced perspective of Lincoln and his times. Each section includes a good general overview and each excerpt from Lincoln’s work is concisely introduced. - Armstrong, Jennifer. Photo by Brady: A Picture of the Civil War. Atheneum, 2005.
Gr. 6-8.
Photographs from over a century ago bring the people and events of the Civil War to life. These striking historical images are the work of Matthew Brady, a pioneer in the art of photography. - Ashabranner, Brent K. No Better Hope: What the Lincoln Memorial Means to
America. Photos by Jennifer Ashabranner. Twenty-First Century, 2001.
Gr. 6-8.
Ashabranner explains the planning and creation of the Lincoln Memorial and its historical significance, and describes historic events that have taken place there, including the 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Bolden, Tonya. Cause: Reconstruction America, 1863-1877. Alfred A.
Knopf, 2005.
Gr. 6 and up.
Three days before he died, Lincoln warned that rebuilding America after the Civil War would be “fraught with difficulty.” His death further complicated the ordeal. - Freedman, Russell. Lincoln: A Photobiography. Clarion, 1987.
Gr. 5-8.
This well-written biography provides a balanced, unromanticized version of the life of the Civil War President. This book was awarded the 1988 John Newbery Medal. - Freedman, Russell. The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson
and the Struggle for Equal Rights. Clarion, 2004.
Gr. 6-8.
Opening with a moving account of the great African American contralto’s Easter Sunday concert from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939, Freedman tells the powerful story of Marian Anderson’s struggle for the right to sing. - Giblin, James Cross. Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin
Booth & John Wilkes Booth. Clarion, 2005.
Gr. 6-8.
This dual biography of President Lincoln’s assassin and his talented brother makes for an informational title that is as intriguing and exciting as any work of fiction. - Hamilton, Virginia. Many Thousand Gone: African Americans from Slavery
to Freedom. Illus. by Leo and Diane Dillon. Alfred A. Knopf,
1995.
Gr. 6-8.
This book offers 34 brief vignettes of slavery in America from its beginning to the end of the Civil War. - Herbert, Janis. The Civil War for Kids: A History with 21 Activities.
Chicago Review, 1999.
Gr. 3-5 and 6-8.
This comprehensive book offers hands-on activities and readable information about the Civil War from the secession debates to Appomattox. - Holzer, Harold. The President Is Shot! The Assassination of Abraham
Lincoln. Boyds Mills, 2004.
Gr. 6-8.
Closely focused on the assassination itself, but with some background information about both Booth and Lincoln, this title is illustrated with archival photos and illustrations. - Lester, Julius. Day of Tears: A Novel in Dialogue. Hyperion, 2005.
Gr. 6-8.
This fictionalized account of the biggest slave auction in American history, which took place in Savannah, Georgia, in 1859, uses dialogue from multiple points of view to bring the events of that day to life for young readers. This book was the winner of the 2006 Coretta Scott King Author Award. - Marrin, Albert. Commander In Chief: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.
Dutton, 2003.
Gr. 6-8.
This thoughtful and thorough biography of Lincoln for older readers places his story in context as well as providing insight into the differences between the nineteenth century world and contemporary life. - McComb, Marianne. The Emancipation Proclamation.
National Geographic,
2006.
Gr. 6-8.
This book describes in very straightforward and accurate text the roots of slavery in the United States, why some people and states were for it and others were opposed to it, why President Lincoln issued the Proclamation when he did, who the Proclamation freed and who it did not, and some of the effects it had on future events. - McKissack, Patricia C., and Fredrick L. McKissack. Days of
Jubilee: The End of Slavery in the United States. Scholastic, 2003.
Gr. 4-8.
Slaves’ personal accounts chronicle the various days that led up to the Emancipation Proclamation, the Thirteenth Amendment and the eventual freedom of all slaves. This book is a 2004 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book. - McMullan, Margaret. How I Found the Strong: A Civil War Story.
Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
Gr. 6-8.
When Frank’s father and brother leave to fight in the Civil War, Frank is left with his mother and grandparents, and with all the questions that surround his growing friendship with Buck, the family’s slave. - Murphy, Jim. The Long Road to Gettysburg. Clarion, 1992.
Gr. 6-8.
This book begins and ends with Lincoln at Gettysburg, and includes the full text of his address. Using actual quotes and diary journals from two young soldiers, Murphy tells the story of the war from their viewpoints. - Myers, Anna. Assassin. Walker, 2005.
Gr. 6-8.
Told from the viewpoint of John Wilkes Booth as well from the perspective of a fictional young girl, this novel details Booth’s plot against the president. - Pearsall, Shelley. Trouble Don’t Last. Alfred A. Knopf, 2002.
Gr. 6-8.
In this historical adventure story, an 11-year-old slave, Samuel, and an elderly slave, Harrison, flee Kentucky for Canada via the Underground Railroad. This book is the winner of the 2003 Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award. - Pinkney, Andrea Davis. Abraham Lincoln: Letters from a Slave Girl.
Winslow, 2001.
Gr. 6-8.
Fictional correspondence between President Abraham Lincoln and a twelve-year-old slave girl discusses his decision to write the Emancipation Proclamation. - Sappéy, Maureen Stack. Letters from Vinnie. Front Street,
1999.
Gr. 6-8.
The story of Vinnie Ream, who sculpted the statue of Lincoln that stands in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building, is told through letters to a fictional friend. - Sullivan, George. Picturing Lincoln: Famous Photographs That Popularized
the President. Clarion, 2000.
Gr. 6-8.
Sullivan examines some of the famous photographs taken of President Abraham Lincoln, and discusses the circumstances under which they were taken and how these images were used. - Wisler, G. Clifton. Mr. Lincoln’s Drummer. Puffin, paper, 1995.
Gr. 6-8.
This engaging historical novel is based on the true story of Willie Johnston, who was just eleven years old when he enlisted in the Union Army. Due to his courage, he meets President Lincoln twice and becomes the youngest recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Suggested Reading 7-12th grade
While these books were selected for teens in grades 7-12, the titles on this list span a broad range of reading and maturity levels. We encourage adults to take an active role in helping individual teens choose those books that are the best fit for them and their families.
This list was prepared by YALSA’s 2006 Booklist Taskforce. YALSA is the world leader in selecting books, videos & audiobooks for teens. For more lists of recommended reading, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists.
Fiction
- Blackwood, Gary. Second Sight. Dutton Children’s Books, 2005.
Gr. 8-10
As part of a mind-reading act, Joseph meets many Washington, D.C. area actors, including the dashing John Wilkes Booth. When a young girl staying at Joseph’s boarding house has dark visions predicting Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, they work together to try to prevent it, in this gripping alternate history. - DuPont, M. Kay. Loving Mr. Lincoln: The Personal Diaries of Mary Todd
Lincoln. Jedco Press, 2003.
Gr. 8-10
Purporting to be the reprinting of the newly-discovered diaries of Mary Todd Lincoln, this engaging novel shows Mrs. Lincoln to be an advocate of women’s rights, a proponent of abolition and the driving force behind Lincoln’s success as President. - Myers, Anna. Assassin. Walker & Co., 2005.
Gr. 7-10
Told from the viewpoint of John Wilkes Booth, as well as from the perspective of a fictional young girl, this novel details Booth’s plot against President Lincoln. - Rinaldi, Ann. An Acquaintance with Darkness. Harcourt Brace, 1997.
Gr. 7-10
1998 YALSA Best Books for Young Adults
In the wake of President Lincoln’s assassination, Emily’s mother dies and arrangements for her to live with her best friend fail when the father is implicated in the assassination plot. Emily goes to live with her sinister uncle instead, a doctor who seems to spend a lot of time in graveyards after dark. - Slotkin, Richard. Abe: A Novel. Henry Holt & Co., 2000.
Gr. 9-12
A deep and haunting story of the formative years of Abraham Lincoln, this novel is rich, intelligent and thoughtful. Through the death of his beloved mother and sister, he learns many survival skills and develops a clear understanding of the equality of all humankind through his life-changing journey down the Mississippi River.
Nonfiction
- Donald, David Herbert. Lincoln at Home: Two Glimpses of Abraham
Lincoln’s Domestic Life. Simon & Schuster, 2000.
Gr. 9-12
An informative biography of Abraham Lincoln in two parts. Part One discusses life in the White House in the early years; part two provides details of the Lincoln family’s life through letters between the president and his wife. - Donald, David Herbert. “We Are Lincoln Men”: Abraham Lincoln and His
Friends. Simon & Schuster, 2003.
Gr. 9-12
This book documents Abraham Lincoln’s friendships and acquaintances; beginning with his childhood and ending with his working relationships with his two private secretaries, Nicolay and Hay, near the end of his life. - Goodwin, Doris Kearns. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham
Lincoln. Simon & Schuster, 2005.
Gr. 9-12
A discussion of the major contenders in the 1860 presidential race, many of whom President Lincoln later invited into his cabinet. It is the story of how Lincoln succeeded in melding this group of rivals into a strong team through his strength and political acumen. - Keneally, Thomas. Abraham Lincoln. Lipper/Viking, 2003.
Gr. 9-12
An in-depth biography of President Abraham Lincoln, from his birth to his presidency. The majority of this book deals with the years before his presidency, including his relationships with those who influenced him and his bouts with a depressive illness. - Kennedy, Caroline, ed. A Patriot’s Handbook: Poems, Stories, and
Speeches Celebrating the Land We Love. Hyperion, 2003.
Gr. 7-12
A comprehensive anthology of American culture, including poetry, major documents, works by authors from all walks of American life, presidential speeches and more. - Lincoln, Abraham, et. al. Lincoln: Speeches and Writings. Library of
America, 1989.
Gr. 9-12
Volume I (1832-1858) and Volume II (1859-1865) contain an extensive collection of the works by Abraham Lincoln, including campaign speeches, the seven Lincoln-Douglas debates, letters to his Civil War military leaders, inaugural speeches and more. - Marrin, Albert. Commander in Chief: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil
War. Dutton Children’s Books, 1997.
Gr. 7-10
Excellent treatment of the life of Abraham Lincoln, focusing on the personal aspects of his experience, from birth to death. Using photographs and quotations, Lincoln is brought to life in a riveting fashion. - Marvel, William. Mr. Lincoln Goes to War. Houghton Mifflin Co., 2006.
Gr. 9-12
Marvel says the Civil War was unnecessary, and leaves no stone unturned in this revisionist history of the president’s role in the war. Includes original photographs, extensive bibliography, biographical sketches of the key players and more. - Meredith, Roy. Mr. Lincoln’s Camera Man: Mathew B. Brady. Dover
Publications, 1974.
Gr. 7-12r /> A fascinating historical collection of Brady’s photographs, chronicling the course of the Civil War, with commentary by Roy Meredith. - Shenk, Joshua Wolf. Lincoln’s Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a
President and Fueled His Greatness. Houghton Mifflin Co., 2005.
Gr. 9-12
Shenk successfully manages to address the issue of Lincoln’s bouts of chronic depression and its affect on his role as president and Commander-in-Chief. - Swanson, James L. Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s
Killer. William Morrow/Avon, 2006.
Gr. 9-12
With great attention to the tiniest fascinating details, Swanson examines John Wilkes Booth’s motives and previous opportunities for his momentous action; his meticulous planning of an event which, if it had played out as intended, would have resulted in the simultaneous deaths of a number of important figures and the crippling of the United States government. He also examines Lincoln’s final hours, and Booth’s bumbling but nearly successful attempt to escape capture. - Tripp, C. A. The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln. Free Press, 2005.
Gr. 9-12
Tripp delves into the intimate world of Lincoln for a fresh look at his character. Lincoln’s relationships with both men and women are explored, as well as how his own inner strength helped him through the most turbulent presidency in history.