Abe Lincoln for Class President!

by Todd Strasser

Working on a last-minute Presidents' Day assignment on his friend's computer, Max accidentally triggers a time machine that brings a young Abe Lincoln to the present, and the excited student introduces him to pizza and basketball

131 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Todd Strasser is an American author of more than 130 novels for adults, young-adults, and middle graders.

His most recent novel is Summer of '69

Booklist review: "Drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll, those hallmarks of the summer of 1969, are all here, but there's so much more. In this loosely autobiographical novel, Strasser introduces 18-year-old Lucas, who is bright and sensitive but also a screw up…. The picture painted of the Woodstock music festival shows the dark side of peace and love, and the prevalence of drugs is on almost every page…The best part of the book, however, is the one that transcends eras: Lucas' introspection as he contemplates his place in the world."

Kirkus review: "Strasser perfectly captures the golden haze of youth and life on the cusp of adulthood. Readers fascinated with this time period will find much to enjoy... Vietnam, Woodstock, road trips, and acid trips: a sweetly bittersweet, surprising, even melancholy bildungsroman set against a world in flux. Groovy, man."

His most recent young adult novel is Price of Duty:
2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
“Compact and suspenseful, the novel raises important questions about war.” – Kirkus 
“This thought-provoking book is both welcome and imperative.” – Booklist * (starred review).
"Rather than attempting to sway the reader, it offers awareness." - VOYA 
“Tightly wound and compelling ... appropriate for an older middle school and high school audience. VERDICT: Highly recommended.” – School Library Journal 

Bio: Todd was born in New York City. When he was young his parents moved to Roslyn Heights, New York (Long Island). Todd went to the I.U. Willets Elementary school and then attended the Wheatley School for junior high and high school. His best subjects were math and science. He also liked to read, but he had trouble with spelling and grammar, and didn't do well in English. His favorite sports were tennis, skiing and fishing. Todd went to college at New York University for a few years, and then dropped out. He lived on a commune, then lived in Europe where he was a street musician.

All the while, Todd wrote songs and poems and lots of letters to his friends back home. Finally he decided to try being a writer. He returned to the United States and went to Beloit College where he studied literature and writing.

After college, Todd worked at the Middletown Times Herald-Record newspaper in Middletown, New York, and later at Compton Advertising in New York City. In 1978, Todd sold his first novel, Angel Dust Blues. He used the money to start the Dr. Wing Tip Shoo fortune cookie company. For the next 12 years, Todd sold more fortune cookies than books.

Todd now divides his time between writing books and speaking at schools and conferences. When he's at home, he likes to spend time with his children and dog, Cooper. He still likes to play tennis and ski, but his favorite new sport is surfing.

Reviews

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was great because the author did a good job of imagineing what abe lincoin would do if he suddenly appeared in the present.

[Dusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another book I recall fondly from my childhood and tracked down to read with my eight-year-old. (Funny how half or more of the books I read these days I read while tucking my son in at night.) The plot is a little flimsy, and the author hardly even attempts to explain the, uh, science that causes the sixteenth president to reappear in the 1990s. But my son laughed out loud at the characters’ interactions with one another, and really, the story is not so different from what we read in the Captain Underpants books he loves so much.

[Alyssa Skinner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been better. . .

[Mary L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun fantasy! I especially liked the fight that Lincoln and Washington had during the school play! Still it managed to give a few hints into ways that we should--but often don't--behave.

[Jennifer Ramirez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abe Lincoln For Class President is a good book, but I didn't like it. I would recommend this book for people that like history based books. I like how Max brings a historical figure to his time period with a time machine and now he has to return him back unless he wants the history to change.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books as a kid.