Young Lincoln

by Jan Jacobi

Young Lincoln is a novel about the childhood and young adult years of Abraham Lincoln. Abe himself tells the story of his years in Kentucky, Indian, and Illinois. He encounters the same problems that young adults have faced for generations: tension with a demanding parent; the need for friendship and the need to be alone; feeling shy and awkward around girls; recurrent depression; and what path to follow in his life. Using primary sources, drawing mostly on materials gathered by Lincoln’s law partner, William H. Herndon, Jan Jaboci gives you adult readers a portrait of Abraham Lincoln they do not encounter in their history books. Abe has serious doubts and concerns about his future, his ability to cope with loss, his lack of religious faith, and his relationship with his father. It is a youth and young adulthood of struggle, doubt, and loss—and there is no guarantee he will survive it.

215 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Kirk B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am utterly blown away by this book and consider it among the best historical fiction I’ve ever read— up there with The Killer Angels, the Master & Commander series, and (while of a very different stripe) the Flashman Series. I’m a father to two young kids and have recently begun trying to find books that I can set aside for my children’s future education and intellectual enjoyment. This is not only at the top of the list for when they hit middle school, but it now holds a prominent place in their Dad’s bookshelf as well. Anyone — of any age — who loves history and is interested in Abraham Lincoln will find this book both a gift and a treasure.

For those who want to read on, here’s my full take on the book: Mr. Jacobi has quite simply written a masterpiece. He deftly captures so many facets of Abraham Lincoln’s early life — his intellectual development, his tenacious self-education, his immense curiosity and love for learning, his deep bouts of depression and how he navigates and copes with it, the harsh and unsparing reality of life and death on the frontier in the early 1800’s, his thoughts on religion and how he wrestled with the questions of existence and philosophy, and the wise and intuitive way he had with people— which, as history proved out, engendered him to so many different types of people and created deep loyalty in those who felt “touched” by him. The Heron metaphor employed in the book was quite moving and likely a powerful educational tool for those who might teach this book (not to mention Metaphor himself and Telemachus and the rest of the Greek figures from mythology whom Lincoln studies and references throughout the book). I also loved how astrology and the constellations were woven into the storyline — another great educational tool.

Mr. Jacobi has brought to life the greatest American who ever lived with a richness and emotional technicolor I have never encountered before. I am counting the years, weeks and days until my own kids are old enough to read and appreciate this masterpiece, and I pray that Mr. Jacobi comes out with a sequel!

[Julie Failla Earhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abraham Lincoln is still popular in the twenty-first century. Rather unusual for a man who’s been dead for more than 150 years. Best-selling novelists, historians and mystery writers are among the many genres who tackle our sixteenth president, the man most consider our greatest president ever.

One thing we don’t have though, is many authors writing about his childhood, at least from a novelistic approach. Most of us know that his mother died young, and he was raised by a overbearing father and stepmother. Most books that I have read either concentrate on his adulthood, especially after he became a lawyer and started pursing his political ambitions.

But Jan Jacobi has given readers a rare glimpse into just how hard life was for young Abe with his new young adult novel, “Young Lincoln.” The cover is beguiling, isn’t it?

Abe and his sister, Sarah grow up under the domineering personality of their father. Life in Indiana is hard. The cabin is either too hot or too cold. There isn’t always enough to eat, which could account for Abe’s lankiness.

He jumps at the chance to to take a flatboat down the Mississippi to New Orleans. This changes his whole outlook on life, and he never looks back.

After moving to New Salem, Illinois, Abe becomes a shopkeeper and begins to study law. He also falls in love with the beautiful Ann Rutledge.

Jacobi’s story takes us from Abe’s life as a little boy until he is elected to the Senate. The beginning is rather rushed, racing from one scene to another, almost if Abe knows that his life will be short and he must fit in as much as he can.

About a third through, the writing settles down and reads can esacpe into the primitive world of early-1800s America. But Jacobi keeps his audience in mind and doesn’t try to go too deep, espcecially into Abe’s bouts with melancholy (or depression as we would know it today).

Perhaps the most poignant scene in the book is the very last one. I won’t give it away, but readers, I hope, will be amazed at how well Jacobi foreshadows Abe’s death. This book is geared toward middle school readers, whom I sure have learned about Abe’s demise. Hopefully, they too will be able to see the poetry in that last scene. It’s worth reading the whole book alone.

“Young Lincoln” receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

[Steven Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know Jan; he goes to my church, and he is pleasant, urbane, and a delight to listen to. His book on Lincoln is a pleasant and informative read, made for young adults, but also is well-researched, has a strong prose style that never flags. I liked how he used a first-person method to examine Lincoln and explain his life, and the book is full of many good images, always a readable style, and I like how he shows Lincoln's development. A theme throughout the book is taking on a task or doing something because it will lead to something better. This is a good way to tell the story, as well as offer a standard for the young reader.
I thought his descriptions of that isolated frontier life very good and a great backdrop to Lincoln's life, and showing the emotional facets of his growth. I also liked the use of a heron to reflect upon Lincoln's nature and inner development. The frontier was lonely, but also a kind of meditative world where a full life could be developed.
I think this is a very good book with a winning prose that young people will like. Had fun reading it.

[Elaine Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book with a unique point of view, from which I learned much about Lincoln that I hadn't known before (and I'm something of a Lincoln buff).

It's written in the first person with Lincoln recounting incidents from his childhood and youth -- from happy memories of his dog and pranks he played with his friends to the harsher memories of life on the frontier and his mother's illness and death. The reader gets a good sense of the joys, sorrows, hardships, questions and doubts that Lincoln would have encountered as he grew up, and of the environment and society in which he lived. Reading this book does feel a bit like sitting in an inn or in Lincoln's law office listening to him share the stories and anecdotes for which he was known. I highly recommend it!

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember at the end of Lincoln, when I looked up at my wife, who had been dragged to go see what was one of those "homework movies." The credits rolled and the lights went up and I discovered her to be a face full of tears as she proclaimed, "I love Lincoln." This book taps into that same vein. Who knew Lincoln was such a card? Such a cynic of religion? And so sad?! But my favorite insight into the Lincoln I never knew through this charming YA version of him was when simple Abe made his inaugural journey to the Illinois statehouse and he wore...a Canadian tuxedo. How can you not love Lincoln? Young Lincoln does him right.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved meeting the author, just in that short introduction at Lincoln's Springfield home, I could see that Jacobi truly LOVES teaching. I was delighted by all Jacobi taught me and the rest of his readers about Lincoln and the hardships he endured to become the exceptional yet imperfect human he was.

[Jason Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read in this series. I met the author and purchased “Lincoln and Douglas” and read it. I enjoyed the historical fiction coverage of Abraham Lincoln, told in the first person.

This book is the early years of Abraham Lincoln’s life, and much is true and much of the information I did not know. The book is an easy read, educational and enjoyable.

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to my step mother for lending me this gem.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute

[Savanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting enough, learned a few things, the writing was a bit scattered and the ending was abrupt.