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In Their Own Words
Abraham Lincoln
From the inspiring yet straightforward words of Abraham Lincoln, the story of a man who went to school for no more than one year, lost two elections, and then went to lead our nation through the hardest of times, is told. Through speeches, writings, and memoirs, Lincoln offers readers a personal history lesson of his life.
128 pages, Paperback
First published December 28, 2000
6 people are currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
George Sullivan
368 books12 followersGeorge Sullivan is a best-selling nonfiction author with more than 100 books to his credit. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 3, 2016
This biography was a very high quality book be ause, it zooms in on the detail about parts of Lincoln's life. One part of the book is only based on his childhood and how he earned money (the book in the part of the childhood went very fast). But the book talked about birth to death. From being a lawyer to be president. Every detail helped me understand more about Lincoln.
March 21, 2021
Thought it was a great book. Quick, easy read that highlighted many important and interesting parts of his life.
April 1, 2016
I thought that this book was okay because I am not really a fan of politics so that's kind of why I gave it 3 stars. Although I really don't like the book it told you that Lincoln was killed at the theater called Fords theater, he was killed at the time 7:22 April 15. That's why I gave this book 3 stars.
March 16, 2013
Who could've guessed that
the boy born in a one-room log cabin
in Kentucky would become the president of US? His face is on the pennies and five-dollar bills. Numerous books have been sold about him. Films with a box office of over $250,000,000. What's so fascinating about his life?
When young, his family couldn't afford his studies and, if counted, the amount of time he spent at school wouldn't be longer than 2 years . However, Lincoln set about educating himself. He would read whatever he could lay his hands on: the Bible, History, Shakespeare, books on Geography and Mathematics. Not only did he read these books, but he also studied and memorised them. And in order to save paper, he would write out on a wooden board, shaving off with his knife when it became filled.
In addition, Lincoln's sense of humour attracted others. The book describes him as someone who had a great knack for telling stories and jokes even as a young man[I'd have loved him at first sight haha]. Life in villages did not have much professional entertainment and anyone who could tell stories was bound to be popular. He was also compassionate and always doing small favours to others.
Many a person knows that he was a lawyer before becoming president. But have you ever asked anyone which University he attended? You should! Lincoln has NEVER attended university to study law. Incredible! He noted that many of the lawyers in the state legislature had never attended college but had simply "read law" in the office of an attorney. No need to say that he borrowed books and began to study.
There's something brilliant about him and it is one of the reasons that many people have regarded him as unforgettable: honesty. In Abraham's own's words: "Resolve to be honest at all events and if, in your own judgement, you can not be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer. Choose some other occupation" (page 49).
And if you think that he was always successful in politics, you may find it hard to believe that in 1855 he ran for the United States Senate, but lost. When he initially got involved in politics, Lincoln belonged to the Whig Party (dissolved in 1860).
Yet, to understand his following involvements with politics, we are to understand US scenery by 1850. The North and the South had always been rivals and the North had a large industrial base. The South was afraid of being outpowered by the North and wanted to secede and form their own country. Nevertheless, slavery would be the reason to split the nation. The Southerners believed that slavery was right and proper while Northern states had already outlawed slavery before 1850.
Did Lincoln start thinking of slavery because he became increasingly well known in Illinois (North) and it was the issue of that time? I don't know. I have a hint he did. He wanted to be involved with political affairs and positioning himself against this matter could help him.
In 1850, when slavery was reaching a critical stage, Lincoln was still a Whig and this party was not hard-set against slavery. In 1854 Northern citizens were determined to end slavery and decided to form a new party - the Republican Party (the same that exists today) [So romantic to see how History unfolds].
The Republican Party wanted him! He was opposed to slavery but was afraid that this Party could become too fierce against slavery and, consequentely, drive the South out of the Union (The Federal Government of the USA). But the Whigs were becoming "weak" [ PUN ]. In 1858, The Republican Party nominated Abraham as candidate for the Senate from Illinois. Lincoln started his speech with a verse from the Bible that Jesus had said ages ago:
And the Oscar goes to... Doesn't go to Lincoln! He lost it! There was a higher position for him. In 1860, the Republican Party nominated Lincoln for President. Honest "Abe" [his nickname] would now become the president of the United States. But his delight would only last for a few weeks for South Carolina seceded from the Union and set itself as an independent country. A government was formed and a Southerner, Jefferson Davis, became their president. It was the beginning of a new nation called "The Confederate States of America". The bloody [ PUN ] Civil War started in 1861 and lasted until 1865.
What was it like to be a president in the middle of so much trouble? I don't know. But Lincoln could handle it and stick to his values. His popularity in the North was immeasurable. Throughout the years he could show how to save a nation and end slavery[teardrop].
Thus, it comes the end. Only 5 days after the Federal victory, actor John Wilkes Booth decided to avenge the South by shooting Lincoln in the back when the president was in a theatre watching a play.
The end in his physical body. Forever in many people's minds!
Larissa Fauber
Click here to check Larissa Fauber's profile on Goodreads.
Click here to read Larissa Fauber's reviews.
To start with, he's a hero.
When young, his family couldn't afford his studies and, if counted, the amount of time he spent at school wouldn't be longer than 2 years . However, Lincoln set about educating himself. He would read whatever he could lay his hands on: the Bible, History, Shakespeare, books on Geography and Mathematics. Not only did he read these books, but he also studied and memorised them. And in order to save paper, he would write out on a wooden board, shaving off with his knife when it became filled.
In addition, Lincoln's sense of humour attracted others. The book describes him as someone who had a great knack for telling stories and jokes even as a young man
Many a person knows that he was a lawyer before becoming president. But have you ever asked anyone which University he attended? You should! Lincoln has
There's something brilliant about him and it is one of the reasons that many people have regarded him as unforgettable: honesty. In Abraham's own's words: "Resolve to be honest at all events and if, in your own judgement, you can not be an honest lawyer, resolve to be honest without being a lawyer. Choose some other occupation" (page 49).
And if you think that he was always successful in politics, you may find it hard to believe that in 1855 he ran for the United States Senate, but lost. When he initially got involved in politics, Lincoln belonged to the Whig Party (dissolved in 1860).
Yet, to understand his following involvements with politics, we are to understand US scenery by 1850. The North and the South had always been rivals and the North had a large industrial base. The South was afraid of being outpowered by the North and wanted to secede and form their own country. Nevertheless, slavery would be the reason to split the nation. The Southerners believed that slavery was right and proper while Northern states had already outlawed slavery before 1850.
Did Lincoln start thinking of slavery because he became increasingly well known in Illinois (North) and it was the issue of that time? I don't know. I have a hint he did. He wanted to be involved with political affairs and positioning himself against this matter could help him.
In 1850, when slavery was reaching a critical stage, Lincoln was still a Whig and this party was not hard-set against slavery. In 1854 Northern citizens were determined to end slavery and decided to form a new party - the Republican Party (the same that exists today)
The Republican Party wanted him! He was opposed to slavery but was afraid that this Party could become too fierce against slavery and, consequentely, drive the South out of the Union (The Federal Government of the USA). But the Whigs were becoming "weak" [ PUN ]. In 1858, The Republican Party nominated Abraham as candidate for the Senate from Illinois. Lincoln started his speech with a verse from the Bible that Jesus had said ages ago:
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
(Matthew 12:25)
And the Oscar goes to... Doesn't go to Lincoln! He lost it! There was a higher position for him. In 1860, the Republican Party nominated Lincoln for President. Honest "Abe" [his nickname] would now become the president of the United States. But his delight would only last for a few weeks for South Carolina seceded from the Union and set itself as an independent country. A government was formed and a Southerner, Jefferson Davis, became their president. It was the beginning of a new nation called "The Confederate States of America". The bloody [ PUN ] Civil War started in 1861 and lasted until 1865.
What was it like to be a president in the middle of so much trouble? I don't know. But Lincoln could handle it and stick to his values. His popularity in the North was immeasurable. Throughout the years he could show how to save a nation and end slavery
Thus, it comes the end. Only 5 days after the Federal victory, actor John Wilkes Booth decided to avenge the South by shooting Lincoln in the back when the president was in a theatre watching a play.
The end in his physical body. Forever in many people's minds!
Larissa Fauber
Click here to check Larissa Fauber's profile on Goodreads.
Click here to read Larissa Fauber's reviews.
September 8, 2017
This book covered the life of Abraham Lincoln. It began with his life as a young boy and followed his journey to becoming President of the United States. I enjoyed this book. This book would be useful to give to a student who is looking to learn more about presidents, or enjoys nonfiction or biographies.
February 4, 2020
I learned about Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War. This is a pretty decent book.
February 20, 2021
A nice, simple review of his life and the circumstances of those times. I think this was an honorable representation of Abraham Lincoln.
October 24, 2018
This is a quick, informative read that is perfect for children. It gives a brief, light, general overview of one of the most beloved Presidents life.
March 17, 2013
Annotation:
Abraham Lincoln (In Their Own Words) is a biography about the sixteenth president of the United States. The book is written by a third person narrator, and it includes some of President Lincoln’s own writing and speeches. Lincoln was born in Kentucky and lived on a farm with his family, but his family moved often. When he was 9, his mother died, and his 12 year old sister took over for her mother by doing the housework. Lincoln worked hard on the farm and didn’t enjoy it as a child. He enjoyed reading, but books were difficult to come by. He learned by borrowing books from others and went to school for less than a year.
Lincoln grew up and eventually found a job as a manager of a store. He started studying law and politics He enjoyed politics and ran for Illinois Legislature unsuccessfully. While he waited for the next election, he started a business that failed miserably, and he spent years paying back his debts. He became a county surveyor while he continued his study of law and politics. In 1834, at the age of 25, Lincoln ran for state legislature in Illinois a second time as a part of the Whig party and was successful. The book then goes on to describe his time in legislature, his time as a lawyer, his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, and his time as president during the Civil War. There are photos throughout the book of Lincoln, his colleagues, his wife, and home life. These photos along with Lincoln’s own writings and speeches help the reader feel as though they are really getting to know President Lincoln.
Response:
I chose to give this book 3 stars. Although I thought it was a great piece of literature, it was dull at times. I don’t particularly enjoy history, so the book was kind of a drag. However, I think that students who don’t hate history as much as I do would find the book very interesting. The chapters are short, and the vocabulary is simple, making this book great as a beginning biography chapter book for younger students. I also liked the fun facts that were added into the text about Lincoln’s home life. For example, his children were never disciplined and would literally act like animals tearing a room apart in front of company. I think that Abraham Lincoln’s life is explained and detailed well enough to give students the most important information without making the text too complicated for children to understand.
One memorable quote from the book was when the author was describing Lincoln’s inauguration speech. He writes, “His inauguration was like his address at Gettysburg. It was not long. It did not waste words. It was forceful and very moving” (p.101). This description of the President’s speech shows how Lincoln affected the citizens of the United States by choosing few, precise words to get his point across. This is a good lesson for students, because sometimes, less IS more. Lincoln was not educated, but he was a self-taught thoughtful man. The description of his character is an example for children to look up to. Lincoln shows courage, honesty, leadership, and responsibility as he addresses and handles situations in office.
Classroom Connections:
While reading this text as a class, I would have my students keep a journal logging information about Abraham Lincoln’s character and personality traits as well as important events and dates. Then, they could create posters displaying the information to the class. This activity would allow them to analyze Lincoln’s character and how it made him successful as a president during the Civil War. It would also allow them to explain how Lincoln became so successful, even though he grew up on a farm and was uneducated. While displaying their posters, students can discuss these matters. I would also have research and then write about the Civil War using their research and the information from the book. On page 122 of the book, there is a chronology list including all the important dates throughout Lincoln’s life. This could help the students organize the information in their journals and their research paper.
Text Complexity:
This book has a Lexile of 700 and a Guided Reading Level of S. It would be appropriate as a read aloud for students in grades 3-5, and a student should be able to read the text independently in the second month of fourth grade.
Abraham Lincoln (In Their Own Words) is a biography about the sixteenth president of the United States. The book is written by a third person narrator, and it includes some of President Lincoln’s own writing and speeches. Lincoln was born in Kentucky and lived on a farm with his family, but his family moved often. When he was 9, his mother died, and his 12 year old sister took over for her mother by doing the housework. Lincoln worked hard on the farm and didn’t enjoy it as a child. He enjoyed reading, but books were difficult to come by. He learned by borrowing books from others and went to school for less than a year.
Lincoln grew up and eventually found a job as a manager of a store. He started studying law and politics He enjoyed politics and ran for Illinois Legislature unsuccessfully. While he waited for the next election, he started a business that failed miserably, and he spent years paying back his debts. He became a county surveyor while he continued his study of law and politics. In 1834, at the age of 25, Lincoln ran for state legislature in Illinois a second time as a part of the Whig party and was successful. The book then goes on to describe his time in legislature, his time as a lawyer, his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, and his time as president during the Civil War. There are photos throughout the book of Lincoln, his colleagues, his wife, and home life. These photos along with Lincoln’s own writings and speeches help the reader feel as though they are really getting to know President Lincoln.
Response:
I chose to give this book 3 stars. Although I thought it was a great piece of literature, it was dull at times. I don’t particularly enjoy history, so the book was kind of a drag. However, I think that students who don’t hate history as much as I do would find the book very interesting. The chapters are short, and the vocabulary is simple, making this book great as a beginning biography chapter book for younger students. I also liked the fun facts that were added into the text about Lincoln’s home life. For example, his children were never disciplined and would literally act like animals tearing a room apart in front of company. I think that Abraham Lincoln’s life is explained and detailed well enough to give students the most important information without making the text too complicated for children to understand.
One memorable quote from the book was when the author was describing Lincoln’s inauguration speech. He writes, “His inauguration was like his address at Gettysburg. It was not long. It did not waste words. It was forceful and very moving” (p.101). This description of the President’s speech shows how Lincoln affected the citizens of the United States by choosing few, precise words to get his point across. This is a good lesson for students, because sometimes, less IS more. Lincoln was not educated, but he was a self-taught thoughtful man. The description of his character is an example for children to look up to. Lincoln shows courage, honesty, leadership, and responsibility as he addresses and handles situations in office.
Classroom Connections:
While reading this text as a class, I would have my students keep a journal logging information about Abraham Lincoln’s character and personality traits as well as important events and dates. Then, they could create posters displaying the information to the class. This activity would allow them to analyze Lincoln’s character and how it made him successful as a president during the Civil War. It would also allow them to explain how Lincoln became so successful, even though he grew up on a farm and was uneducated. While displaying their posters, students can discuss these matters. I would also have research and then write about the Civil War using their research and the information from the book. On page 122 of the book, there is a chronology list including all the important dates throughout Lincoln’s life. This could help the students organize the information in their journals and their research paper.
Text Complexity:
This book has a Lexile of 700 and a Guided Reading Level of S. It would be appropriate as a read aloud for students in grades 3-5, and a student should be able to read the text independently in the second month of fourth grade.
October 14, 2013
This series of books (In Their Own Words) has value, despite being very sanitized children's books (ages 8 -12), due to the standard of using primary sources for its material. I am sorry to say, but after reading this, I am more convinced than ever before that the Civil War could have been avoided, maybe if Lincoln had a more forceful personality? And because of his murder, the South was never healed and repaired as he had intended... Apparently no one smart was alive and in leadership at that time, to create NEW economic solutions instead of bloodshed.
April 9, 2009
Wonderful small chapter book for younger and older readers filled with memorable information about Abraham Lincoln as a person, politician, father, and president during our nation’s most challenging time in history. George Sullivan did a nice job of describing politics in a way that children can understand and even enjoy learning about. A must have for any elementary through high school library.
September 10, 2016
This is a series of nonfiction biographies of famous people. The books are written in a way that is easy to understand and are full of pictures, illustrations, and graphics that are sure to intrigue young readers. The series includes: Helen Keller, Abraham Lincoln, Lewis & Clark, Paul Revere, Pocahontas, The Wright Brothers, and Thomas Edison. These are great books to introduce readers to nonfiction.
March 27, 2012
This was a short, sweet, easy-to-understand biography of Abraham Lincoln for kids. It includes a lot of quotations and interesting facts. A large portion is a summary of the Civil War and what he did during that time, up to his death. His wife and children are not a big part of the book. It is definitely specifically about him. It was very interesting and I liked reading it!
February 28, 2011
Gives a lot of facts. I like how it clearly tells what is happening.
George Sullivan copies some of the more famous quotes, and
never gets off topic. He also strongly writes the emotions of everyone
as well as wonderfully describing every character and event.
George Sullivan copies some of the more famous quotes, and
never gets off topic. He also strongly writes the emotions of everyone
as well as wonderfully describing every character and event.
November 21, 2008
A very human portrait of the man and the president (and his family).
Read
November 27, 2013AR Quiz No. 54155 EN Nonfiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 5.3 - AR Pts: 2.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 5.3 - AR Pts: 2.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP
April 13, 2015
The book doesn't let me get interested. But when I read the book really carefully and understanding, I think it will be a good non-fiction book.
November 19, 2015
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May 2, 2016
(Chapter 12: Recommended Reading)
January 29, 2017
It's a very informational book. It talks about what he did as a child, teen, adult, and up to when he died. I highly recommend it for people who want to learn about Abraham Lincoln.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews