The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary

The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary presents the parallel lives of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd before and during their marriage. The book uses a scrapbook format with photographs, letters, newspaper clippings, and other historical documents to tell their story. Fleming structures the narrative through both chronological and thematic chapters that showcase the personal and public aspects of the Lincolns' lives. The format allows readers to examine primary sources while following the transformation of a frontier lawyer and a Southern belle into the President and First Lady of the United States during the Civil War. The book includes details about their courtship, family life, political rise, and experiences in the White House. These intimate glimpses come directly from period documents, giving readers access to the authentic voices and perspectives of the time. This multi-layered approach reveals the complexities of a marriage that unfolded against the backdrop of a nation in crisis, exploring themes of ambition, loss, and the price of power.

Readers appreciate the scrapbook format with photographs, newspaper clippings, and letters that make the Lincolns' story accessible to young readers. Many note that the book provides a balanced view of both Abraham and Mary, rather than focusing solely on the president. Parents and teachers say the book engages reluctant readers through its visual elements while still maintaining historical depth. Multiple reviewers mentioned the book helps humanize historical figures for students. Some readers found the format choppy and hard to follow chronologically. A few noted that younger children (under 12) struggled with the vocabulary level. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,024 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (47 ratings) "The layout makes complex history digestible without dumbing it down" - Teacher review on Amazon "Perfect for teaching primary sources" - School Library Journal review "My students keep picking this up during free reading time" - Goodreads reviewer

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin This political biography examines Lincoln's relationship with his cabinet members through primary sources and personal correspondence.

The Life of Elizabeth I by Alison Weir The scrapbook-style presentation of letters, documents, and historical accounts creates a multi-layered portrait of the Tudor queen's personal and political life.

Jefferson's Children by Shannon Lanier and Jane Feldman This combination of photographs, documents, and oral histories traces the legacy of Thomas Jefferson through his descendants.

Victoria: Portrait of a Queen by Catherine Reef The blend of photographs, paintings, and primary sources illustrates Queen Victoria's relationships with her family members and role as monarch.

Becoming Ben Franklin by Russell Freedman Primary sources, illustrations, and personal writings reveal Franklin's evolution from printer's apprentice to founding father.

🎩 Though Mary Todd Lincoln grew up in a wealthy Kentucky family, her new husband Abraham was so poor when they married that they had to rent a single room at a tavern for $4 per week. 📚 Author Candace Fleming spent over two years researching and collecting materials for this unique scrapbook-style biography, incorporating more than 100 authentic period photographs and documents. 🎭 Mary Todd Lincoln attended Ford's Theatre with her husband over 100 times during his presidency before that fateful night in April 1865. 🏛️ During the Civil War, Mary Lincoln redecorated the White House extensively, exceeding the congressional appropriation by $6,700—a huge sum for that time—and causing a minor political scandal. 🌟 Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. president to be photographed at his inauguration, with the famous photographer Mathew Brady capturing the historic moment on March 4, 1861.