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The Making of America
Abraham Lincoln: The Making of America #3
Award-winning author Teri Kanefield ’s biography of Abraham Lincoln for young readers is the story of the man widely considered America’s greatest president.
The third installment of the Making of America series, Abraham Lincoln follows one of our most popular presidents. Even though he grew up on the frontier without a formal education, Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) worked his way up in the government. He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, then to the US House of Representatives, and then he became the 16th president of the United States. During his presidency, he led the United States through the Civil War, brought about the emancipation of the enslaved, and strengthened the federal government.
Unlike other biographical works, the Making of America series goes beyond individual narratives and links influential figures to create an overarching story of America’s growth. The books can be read on their own and are also a way to entice young readers to study American history. The book includes archival images, plus selections from Lincoln’s writings, endnotes, a bibliography, and an index.
The Making of America
Alexander Hamilton (#1)
Andrew Jackson (#2)
Abraham Lincoln (#3)
Susan B. Anthony (#4)
Franklin D. Roosevelt (#5)
Thurgood Marshall (#6)
The third installment of the Making of America series, Abraham Lincoln follows one of our most popular presidents. Even though he grew up on the frontier without a formal education, Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) worked his way up in the government. He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, then to the US House of Representatives, and then he became the 16th president of the United States. During his presidency, he led the United States through the Civil War, brought about the emancipation of the enslaved, and strengthened the federal government.
Unlike other biographical works, the Making of America series goes beyond individual narratives and links influential figures to create an overarching story of America’s growth. The books can be read on their own and are also a way to entice young readers to study American history. The book includes archival images, plus selections from Lincoln’s writings, endnotes, a bibliography, and an index.
The Making of America
Alexander Hamilton (#1)
Andrew Jackson (#2)
Abraham Lincoln (#3)
Susan B. Anthony (#4)
Franklin D. Roosevelt (#5)
Thurgood Marshall (#6)
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 2018
5 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Teri Kanefield
36 books102 followersTeri writes novels, short stories, essays, stories for children, nonfiction for both children and adults, and lots of appellate briefs.
Her stories and essays have appeared in publications as diverse as Education Week, Scope Magazine, The Iowa Review, Cricket Magazine, and The American Literary Review.
Teri's books have received the following honors and distinctions:
The Girl From The Tar Paper School:
--Jane Addams Book Award
--Carter G. Woodson Middle Level Book Award, 2015
--California Reading Association Eureka Silver Honor Book Award
--Included on the 2015 list of Notable Social Studies Trade Books for young readers compiled by the National Council for Social Studies
--Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children (National Association of Teachers of English), Recommended Book
--Included in the New York Public Library's list of 100 children's books to read in 2014.
--A Junior Library Guild selection
Praise for The Girl From The Tar Paper School:
"Beautifully and clearly written." School Library Journal, starred review
"Worthy of the highest recommendation." Midwest Book Review
Rivka's Way
--Sidney Taylor Book Awards, Notable book of 2001
-- Lilith Magazine's 5th Annual Selection of Books for Young Readers
--Included in Great Books for Girls, by Kathleen Odean
--Included in Best Jewish Books for Children and Teens, by Linda R. Silver
Praise for Rivka's Way :
"A rewarding read for the romantically inclined." School Library Journal
"A simple but daring adventure." Voice of Youth Advocates
Guilty? Crime, Punishment, and the Changing Face of Justice
--Junior Library Guild selection
Teri's law practice is limited to representing indigents on appeal from adverse rulings.
She lives in California near the beach..
Her stories and essays have appeared in publications as diverse as Education Week, Scope Magazine, The Iowa Review, Cricket Magazine, and The American Literary Review.
Teri's books have received the following honors and distinctions:
The Girl From The Tar Paper School:
--Jane Addams Book Award
--Carter G. Woodson Middle Level Book Award, 2015
--California Reading Association Eureka Silver Honor Book Award
--Included on the 2015 list of Notable Social Studies Trade Books for young readers compiled by the National Council for Social Studies
--Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children (National Association of Teachers of English), Recommended Book
--Included in the New York Public Library's list of 100 children's books to read in 2014.
--A Junior Library Guild selection
Praise for The Girl From The Tar Paper School:
"Beautifully and clearly written." School Library Journal, starred review
"Worthy of the highest recommendation." Midwest Book Review
Rivka's Way
--Sidney Taylor Book Awards, Notable book of 2001
-- Lilith Magazine's 5th Annual Selection of Books for Young Readers
--Included in Great Books for Girls, by Kathleen Odean
--Included in Best Jewish Books for Children and Teens, by Linda R. Silver
Praise for Rivka's Way :
"A rewarding read for the romantically inclined." School Library Journal
"A simple but daring adventure." Voice of Youth Advocates
Guilty? Crime, Punishment, and the Changing Face of Justice
--Junior Library Guild selection
Teri's law practice is limited to representing indigents on appeal from adverse rulings.
She lives in California near the beach..
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 29, 2018
I've read two of three of these now and like Kanefield's writing style and approach. Like the Who Was/Who Is series, Captured History, and A Wicked History, I learn new things with Kanefield's work too and that is always a delight.
The emphasis is all-encompassing and focuses on his early life and family growing up as when he began his own, his politics and law degree, and then his work with slavery and protecting and overseeing the United States of America. The straightforward writing with just enough pictures and some textboxes pace it out and keep it moving as you learn about the first assassinated president and his lasting legacy in history.
The emphasis is all-encompassing and focuses on his early life and family growing up as when he began his own, his politics and law degree, and then his work with slavery and protecting and overseeing the United States of America. The straightforward writing with just enough pictures and some textboxes pace it out and keep it moving as you learn about the first assassinated president and his lasting legacy in history.
September 10, 2019
Originally reviewed for YA Books Central: https://www.yabookscentral.com/yanonf...
A highly accessible biographical overview of (arguably) the most renowned and history-altering of all the United States presidents. The book tracks and examines the life of Abraham Lincoln—from his unremarkable birth and monetarily/intellectually impoverished upbringing, to his time as an indentured laborer—on to his courtship of Mary Todd and budding legal endeavors… and ultimately, to his political ascension and assassination.
Kudos to Teri Kanefield for such an engaging non-fiction format. The regularly interspersed images and paragraphs worth of footnote asides really helped break up the information and stave off reading fatigue. It also helped put certain concepts in proper context. And beyond mere dates and factoids, there is a concerted effort to convey Lincoln’s motivations and personality. It presents the environment and evolution of his value system, the reasoning behind his divergence from his immediate family’s political leanings, his ongoing struggles with melancholy (i.e. depression), and the terrible personal losses he endured. And Kanefield manages to do so without the use of manipulative or bias word choices.
Note: While some facts I simply had never learned during my inadequate U.S. history education, there are some things that felt more like surprising (yet intriguing) points of conjecture. For example: The book dwells often on how odd in physical appearance and proportion Abraham Lincoln happened to be. And it strongly implies that Lincoln was a sure political bet only to his wife, Mary—who seemed determined, even before their courtship, that she would be married to a U.S. President. Indeed, the book suggests Lincoln may not have persisted in his discouraging political career had Mary not nagged (er…coaxed?) him into it.
There was far more information on Mary Todd, and the sometimes contentious marriage dynamic between her and Abe, than I’d ever before encountered. This reader had never realized that the first lady's family was largely pro-confederacy. And as a result, "Southerners scorned her as a traitor to her home state and land of her birth. Northerners suspected her of being disloyal to the Union because she had close relatives in the Confederate army." Her life seems nearly as befitting a biography as her husband’s.
Regarding the aftermath of Lincoln’s death, the book postulates: "Booth was stunned by how the assassination was portrayed in the press. He had spent so much time among like-minded people who hated Lincoln, and he had read so many newspaper accounts denouncing Lincoln as a tyrant bent on destroying the Constitution and personal liberty, that he expected to be hailed as a hero. Instead ... he was being hunted down like a beast, while Lincoln was held up ... as a martyred saint."
While it's fascinating to think that the echo chamber John Wilkes Booth lived in led him to believe he'd be publicly lauded for murdering Lincoln... I just wonder how they know this. Letters? There doesn’t appear to be a source for this cited.
“Confederates called Lincoln a dictator and fanatic who must be stopped by any means, including 'revolution or private assassination.’”
I appreciate that this book really explores how much criticism Lincoln received in his day--both from slave owners, who were enraged at how much he was pushing for change--and from his fellow abolitionists, who didn't think he was doing enough. History often shows that the most effective world-changers were those who made incremental alterations on their way to an ultimate goal, rather than imposing an abrupt all-or-nothing approach. But there have been, and always will be, those who disparage a moderated strategy.
"I hope to stand firm enough to not go backward, and yet not go forward fast enough to wreck the country's cause." --Abraham Lincoln
Yet, some in recent years have chosen to interpret the approaches and motivations of many historical figures through an inflexible modern-day lens of moral superiority—resulting in cynicism and even vilification toward figures who are entirely too dead to defend themselves. This book, however, gives no quarter to the dying trend of portraying Lincoln as a mere political opportunist.
-"Under Cox's theory of Lincoln, which has gained wide acceptance among scholars, Lincoln was a practical statesman and not an idealist. At each stage he was willing to settle for what he could accomplish, while remaining alert for opportunities to achieve his long-desired objective of liberty and justice for all."
-"As another historian explained, Lincoln "always sought the meeting point between what was right in theory and what could be achieved in practice." Lincoln saw no point in putting forward plans or proposals that couldn't possibly win popular support."
Ultimately, this was an enlightening overview of an indisputably influential life. By the end, readers will feel as though they better know Lincoln the man, rather than simply knowing a few more things about Lincoln the historical figure.
A highly accessible biographical overview of (arguably) the most renowned and history-altering of all the United States presidents. The book tracks and examines the life of Abraham Lincoln—from his unremarkable birth and monetarily/intellectually impoverished upbringing, to his time as an indentured laborer—on to his courtship of Mary Todd and budding legal endeavors… and ultimately, to his political ascension and assassination.
Kudos to Teri Kanefield for such an engaging non-fiction format. The regularly interspersed images and paragraphs worth of footnote asides really helped break up the information and stave off reading fatigue. It also helped put certain concepts in proper context. And beyond mere dates and factoids, there is a concerted effort to convey Lincoln’s motivations and personality. It presents the environment and evolution of his value system, the reasoning behind his divergence from his immediate family’s political leanings, his ongoing struggles with melancholy (i.e. depression), and the terrible personal losses he endured. And Kanefield manages to do so without the use of manipulative or bias word choices.
Note: While some facts I simply had never learned during my inadequate U.S. history education, there are some things that felt more like surprising (yet intriguing) points of conjecture. For example: The book dwells often on how odd in physical appearance and proportion Abraham Lincoln happened to be. And it strongly implies that Lincoln was a sure political bet only to his wife, Mary—who seemed determined, even before their courtship, that she would be married to a U.S. President. Indeed, the book suggests Lincoln may not have persisted in his discouraging political career had Mary not nagged (er…coaxed?) him into it.
There was far more information on Mary Todd, and the sometimes contentious marriage dynamic between her and Abe, than I’d ever before encountered. This reader had never realized that the first lady's family was largely pro-confederacy. And as a result, "Southerners scorned her as a traitor to her home state and land of her birth. Northerners suspected her of being disloyal to the Union because she had close relatives in the Confederate army." Her life seems nearly as befitting a biography as her husband’s.
Regarding the aftermath of Lincoln’s death, the book postulates: "Booth was stunned by how the assassination was portrayed in the press. He had spent so much time among like-minded people who hated Lincoln, and he had read so many newspaper accounts denouncing Lincoln as a tyrant bent on destroying the Constitution and personal liberty, that he expected to be hailed as a hero. Instead ... he was being hunted down like a beast, while Lincoln was held up ... as a martyred saint."
While it's fascinating to think that the echo chamber John Wilkes Booth lived in led him to believe he'd be publicly lauded for murdering Lincoln... I just wonder how they know this. Letters? There doesn’t appear to be a source for this cited.
“Confederates called Lincoln a dictator and fanatic who must be stopped by any means, including 'revolution or private assassination.’”
I appreciate that this book really explores how much criticism Lincoln received in his day--both from slave owners, who were enraged at how much he was pushing for change--and from his fellow abolitionists, who didn't think he was doing enough. History often shows that the most effective world-changers were those who made incremental alterations on their way to an ultimate goal, rather than imposing an abrupt all-or-nothing approach. But there have been, and always will be, those who disparage a moderated strategy.
"I hope to stand firm enough to not go backward, and yet not go forward fast enough to wreck the country's cause." --Abraham Lincoln
Yet, some in recent years have chosen to interpret the approaches and motivations of many historical figures through an inflexible modern-day lens of moral superiority—resulting in cynicism and even vilification toward figures who are entirely too dead to defend themselves. This book, however, gives no quarter to the dying trend of portraying Lincoln as a mere political opportunist.
-"Under Cox's theory of Lincoln, which has gained wide acceptance among scholars, Lincoln was a practical statesman and not an idealist. At each stage he was willing to settle for what he could accomplish, while remaining alert for opportunities to achieve his long-desired objective of liberty and justice for all."
-"As another historian explained, Lincoln "always sought the meeting point between what was right in theory and what could be achieved in practice." Lincoln saw no point in putting forward plans or proposals that couldn't possibly win popular support."
Ultimately, this was an enlightening overview of an indisputably influential life. By the end, readers will feel as though they better know Lincoln the man, rather than simply knowing a few more things about Lincoln the historical figure.
July 4, 2022
I liked this book because of its descriptiveness and wide-reaching, vivid explanations. Teri Kanefield accurately described the life of one of our most famous presidents, Abraham Lincoln, and his mindset throughout the Civil War. Using numerous sources, she gives readers a vivid glimpse into Lincoln’s childhood and private life, as well as explaining how he got involved in politics and what motivated him to ultimately issue the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment.
Kanefield also provides a detailed explanation of the political background in this time period, like the Supreme Court’s notorious Dred Scott decision, to help readers understand the passionate public opinions about slavery, including how they shaped America’s politics and how the numerous conflicts related to it ultimately escalated into our nation’s only civil war.
Kanefield also provides a detailed explanation of the political background in this time period, like the Supreme Court’s notorious Dred Scott decision, to help readers understand the passionate public opinions about slavery, including how they shaped America’s politics and how the numerous conflicts related to it ultimately escalated into our nation’s only civil war.
July 17, 2018
A great basic introduction to the life of President Lincoln, with enough graphics to make for easy reading.
May 2, 2019
Great succinct biography on Lincoln. I enjoyed the part about his childhood.
Read
September 25, 2024*no ratings for non-fiction*
October 14, 2019
Abraham Lincoln by Teri Kanefield (The Making of America, #3), 230 pages. Abrams Books, 2018. $17. Content: Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.
BUYING ADVISORY: MS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
When Abraham Lincoln was little he lived on the frontier with his poor farming family. He lost his mother at an earlier age, but he adored his stepmother as well. Lincoln loved to read and eventually practiced law. He was a great speaker and people liked him, so after many failures he eventually rose up through government offices and became the President of the United States. Lincoln was President during the Civil War and did everything he could to reunite our divided country. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.
This is a great biography that covers Lincoln’s life without getting bogged down with too many details. I feel like the highlights of his career and family life were covered, making this a great introduction to Lincoln. As far as content, the violence is that Lincoln was killed and it explains where the bullet went, also there were 3 times that quotes contained blanked out “n” words or swears.
Reviewer, C. Peterson
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
BUYING ADVISORY: MS – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
When Abraham Lincoln was little he lived on the frontier with his poor farming family. He lost his mother at an earlier age, but he adored his stepmother as well. Lincoln loved to read and eventually practiced law. He was a great speaker and people liked him, so after many failures he eventually rose up through government offices and became the President of the United States. Lincoln was President during the Civil War and did everything he could to reunite our divided country. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.
This is a great biography that covers Lincoln’s life without getting bogged down with too many details. I feel like the highlights of his career and family life were covered, making this a great introduction to Lincoln. As far as content, the violence is that Lincoln was killed and it explains where the bullet went, also there were 3 times that quotes contained blanked out “n” words or swears.
Reviewer, C. Peterson
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
April 3, 2022
Although this biography about the nation's sixteenth President covers some familiar territory, including information about Abraham Lincoln's formative years, his marriage to Mary Todd and her desire for her husband to become President, as well as his surprising rise to the leadership of the land, it also offers new anecdotes and facts. Relying on some of Lincoln's words from various speeches, letters, and newspapers, the author paints a nuanced picture of this leader, both beloved and vilified, depending on one's perspective. What emerges from this account is the notion that it was the man's quietness and unflappability as well as his ability to see both sides of various arguments. While certainly not beyond reproach, Lincoln seems to have possessed the ability to rally others around his causes, and the author depicts him as being something of a poet and a practical statesman, aware that he could not possibly accomplish all that he set out to do or that his heart and conscience urged him to do, but ultimately, he fully supported the idea of liberty and justice for all. While some might have yearned for him to be more forthright about his political and personal beliefs, he seemed to have been in it for the long game, trying to accomplish what he could while being fully aware that some changes were impossible to put into effect at that time. Clearly, his Presidency had wide-ranging effects, including passage of the Thirteenth Amendment and a reinterpretation of the Constitution. Young scholars of history will find this book and the others in this series valuable in helping them understand what has shaped and influenced this nation in its current state as well as some of the powers that Presidents are presumed to have during wartime. The main part of this biography is bookended by Lincoln's assassination, which adds drama and suspense to what would already have been an exciting account. Several archival photographs, sources, and a timeline can be found in the back matter.
January 29, 2021
This is a great introduction to President Lincoln and the American political system. For young adult or adult, this is a great book.
Kanefield did a great job in providing a glimpse of Lincoln's childhood and growth, not just as a man, but growing into law and politics. I feel sometimes we as readers can get so bogged down in the extra details some authors provide. I can appreciate the effort they put into research and writing on their subject, but it can be somewhat daunting, depending on the type of reader. Kanefield provided enough detail to get the point across and, for me, left me with my own desire to go back and look into a few things.
As Kanefield went along with Lincoln's career, she did a great job in describing the political parties, the back and forth politicians deal with on coming to agreements, and insets describing other legislation in place that had to be dealt with to advance the cause.
I look forward to getting a hold of the other books in this series, and if Kanefield has others, I will look for those as well.
Kanefield did a great job in providing a glimpse of Lincoln's childhood and growth, not just as a man, but growing into law and politics. I feel sometimes we as readers can get so bogged down in the extra details some authors provide. I can appreciate the effort they put into research and writing on their subject, but it can be somewhat daunting, depending on the type of reader. Kanefield provided enough detail to get the point across and, for me, left me with my own desire to go back and look into a few things.
As Kanefield went along with Lincoln's career, she did a great job in describing the political parties, the back and forth politicians deal with on coming to agreements, and insets describing other legislation in place that had to be dealt with to advance the cause.
I look forward to getting a hold of the other books in this series, and if Kanefield has others, I will look for those as well.
Read
June 14, 2019I really liked this book because I really didn't know much about Abraham Lincoln's past and knew more about him during his time serving as president. I didn't know if he had a lot of family members or how he lived his life before he became a president. This book taught me a lot about Abraham Lincoln's past which I wanted to know. If you may want to know about Abraham Lincoln's past I suggest you reading it because it contains a load of information about him. Such as he lived up without a mother or he was known as Honest Abe because he was honest with his job as a marketer. So if you want to do a report on Abraham Lincoln. I suggest you using this book so that you can have plenty of info on your report.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2019
This book was written very well and detailed. Teri Kanefield gives you a brief and very explained story about Lincoln's life. There are many key points about this story that I hadn't known before. Iv'e always known Lincoln as the 16th president but Kanefield included all the important details in his life that weren't mentioned. I am inspired by this book and will continue to read the rest of the series.
May 12, 2021
I read this book in Preparation of my Civil War unit for my fifth grade class. I found this book to be really accessible and a slick read for most ten year olds. I think if you’re upper elementary school or junior high school kid wants to read a biography about Lincoln this is a good choice.
November 24, 2022
A short biography following the rise of a self-educated farmer who became the sixteenth president of the United States. The humble beginnings of Abraham Lincoln and what drove him into a career in politics, and eventually the legacy he left behind.
November 30, 2018
A good examination of a man who has plenty of books written about him. I learned about the evolution of his views and more about his relationship with Mary Todd.
June 17, 2025
Loved it!
October 5, 2018
Featured in "Historical Nonfiction for Young Readers" on Intellectual Recreation.
Abraham Lincoln routinely scores the number one spot on lists of greatest United States Presidents. Most people know the highlights of Lincoln's career--securing the presidency, leading the country during the Civil War, signing the Emancipation Proclamation, and delivering the Gettysburg Address. What I really loved about Teri Kanefield's biography for young readers, is that it clued me in to how Lincoln began his path to the presidency, where he gained his abolitionist convictions, and the role Mary Todd played in his life.
I've loved every one of the books in the Making of America Series, and I'm hoping for many, many more additions to the series.
Review copy from NetGalley.
Abraham Lincoln routinely scores the number one spot on lists of greatest United States Presidents. Most people know the highlights of Lincoln's career--securing the presidency, leading the country during the Civil War, signing the Emancipation Proclamation, and delivering the Gettysburg Address. What I really loved about Teri Kanefield's biography for young readers, is that it clued me in to how Lincoln began his path to the presidency, where he gained his abolitionist convictions, and the role Mary Todd played in his life.
I've loved every one of the books in the Making of America Series, and I'm hoping for many, many more additions to the series.
Review copy from NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews