The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary - Book Review

This post was written as a Master's course assignment for Texas Woman's University.

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Fleming, Candace. 2008. THE LINCOLNS: A SCRAPBOOK LOOK AT ABRAHAM AND MARY. New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 9780375936180

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Candice Fleming's enchanting world, the biography of Abraham and Mary Lincoln, is an elegantly told, superbly arranged account of the lives and deaths of those two historical figures. Realizing the importance of relaying the accounts of Mary and Abraham, Fleming begins with a birth-to-death timeline of both, with their life events side by side in chronological order. We learn of the illiterate, impoverished childhood of Abraham, and the contrasting privileged, slave-owning mansion living of Mary's family and childhood. 

Beyond the initial timeline, the author has arranged the book into manageable chunks, with each chapter a capsule of time that focuses in on one era. This approach adds to the ease of hopping forwards or backwards, while also giving the option to read straight through. We learn about the beginnings of Abraham and Mary, emotionally, politically, socially, and personally. All of the life changes, tragedies, honorable displays of character, and questionable life choices are present, taking the reader on a fantastic journey that corresponds with some of the greatest changes to ever occur in our nation's history.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Accuracy

The author spent five years researching in libraries and archives to build this masterpiece book. She has received "rave reviews" for all of her books and several awards, including the ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book and a PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Book of the Year.  Ample sources and references are cited in the back of this book, nearly 20 pages of bibliographic sources and credits, plus an index.

The author blasts stereotypes right away, noting early on that he's Abraham (that he hates being called Abe), and she's Mary (she actually dropped the maiden name Todd at marriage).

Organization

Fleming's scrapbook design lends to easy eye-appeal and reading into blocks of text that look, at times, like a newspaper column. This allows the reader easy-digestion, stop-and-go reading, and the ability to jump around instead of reading straight chapters. The story is not a straight timeline, as it moves back and forth in history, among Abraham and Mary, until their stories and lives combine and they move forward together.

Design

The illustrations and text are correct and historically appropriate; if there is not an exact image from the family's archive, occasionally a piece will appear that is "of the time" and helps to provide a look or feel, enhancing the mood. The fonts differ greatly, adding visual appeal and interest. Some of the fonts appear "old-timey" or "aged," some are bold, some are all caps, others are typewriter-style. 

Style

We learn in chunks about the bits and pieces of Mary's and Abraham's personal lives. The story is told artfully and with good contrast. For instance, on the matter of their education, Mary had "an education unmatched by her peers... almost always the most highly educated woman (or person) in the room." Abraham attended a "blab school" wherein all of the students recite their lessons out loud, at the same time, while the teacher listens for errors. Though he is widely known to be a well educated man, Abraham was almost entirely self educated, since his "schooling did not amount to one year."

We also learn about both Abraham and Mary struggling with emotional and mental forces that left each of them untouchable at times, and of the compassion and ultimately burning relationship that they shared with each other, that lasted for a lifetime. The author, during her research, noted that she could not tell the story of one without the other.

Candace Fleming weaves the stories together into a beautifully constructed book that would be as welcome as a coffee table centerpiece as it would in a child's personal library.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "What did this backwoods boy and this bluegrass girl have in common? Using her signature scrapbook approach, Fleming lays out the answer in a biography that gives equal emphasis to Abraham and Mary Lincoln for an insightful portrait of their lives."

Starred Review from BOOKLIST: "On spreads that combine well-chosen visuals with blocks of headlined text, Fleming gives a full, birth-to-death view of the "inextricably bound" Lincolns."

5. CONNECTIONS

*Readers may delight in making a recipe from the book (with assistance, if necessary), such as Mary's "A Recipe for White Cake," which, according to Abraham, was "the best I've ever eaten."

*See also other scrapbook biographies by Candace Fleming: BEN FRANKLIN'S ALMANAC: BEING A TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE GOOD GENTLEMAN'S LIFE, ISBN 9780689835490, 

and OUR ELEANOR: A SCRAPBOOK LOOK AT ELEANOR ROOSEVELT'S REMARKABLE LIFE, ISBN 9780689865442.