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Rll595ag_thomasjakovlic

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Rll595ag_thomasjakovlic is Currently Reading

Rll595ag_thomasjakovlic is currently reading

The Berlin Boxing Club

by Robert Sharenow

bookshelves: currently-reading

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May 28, 2013 11:54AM

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Abe Lincoln at Last! (Magic Tree House #47)

by Mary Pope Osborne

bookshelves: fantasy, currently-reading

Reading for the 2nd time

read in June 2013

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Rll595ag_thomasjakovlic said: " Allright, first and foremost this is very much a fantasy story set with a nearly entirely American theme. Mary Pope Osborne is an American from the state of Conneticut, and this book is all about how Jack and Annie from Frog Creek, PA go into their t Allright, first and foremost this is very much a fantasy story set with a nearly entirely American theme. Mary Pope Osborne is an American from the state of Conneticut, and this book is all about how Jack and Annie from Frog Creek, PA go into their treehouse to provide America's iconic president, Abraham Lincoln, with a feather quill. The quill will act plot device to move the storyline forward and provide Mr. Lincoln with inspiration to maintain the course, write his great speeches at many battles such as Gettysburg, craft the Emancipation Proclamation, and hold the Union together during the Civil War. It is an all American tale told by an writer who knows how to bring out the honest in Abe and us all, and wonder at the some insights of how Abraham Lincoln survived 4 years of horrific war. With that being said, this book is not only engaging, but I will say it contains some insight into the multicultural heritage of one Abraham Lincoln.

When one looks at the details of Osborne's plot of Annie and Jack going on a mission to give Lincoln a feather, it isn't just a patriotic mission. Rather, Osborn gives us many details on early childhood of Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was born within 5 miles of the Confederacy's President Jefferson Davis. Lincoln was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky. The geographic location is within a 100 hundred miles of the Applachian Mountains. The fact that Abe Lincoln was born in a one room log cabin would in my mind make him our Applachian president. Throughout the story, we see evidence of Mr. Lincoln more rugged and country ways. He plays tricks on Frank and Annie saying he is Sam, he tells long and engaging stories and tall tales, and his beginnings are truly humble; in Osborne's retelling Sam, aka Abe Lincoln, does chores such as cutting wood with an ax, milking cows, getting water from the "rough", a bramble inested backwoods trail, and lives in a very primitive log cabin where cold air blows in the through the cracks and civilized amenities like books and tailor crafted clothes were nearly nonexistent. Sam doesn't sleep on bed, but instead he retires on a loft with a bedding of corn husks. The backwoods Applachian background is complete when we see "Sam" riding a rickety boned old white horse whose lack of nutrition is almost matched by the young Abe Lincoln's bony frail frame.

What is endearing about Osborne's retelling of simple early 19th century pioneer Appalachian Kentucky is its accuracy and simplicity of living conditions and charms in that life compared to the ferocious desire to learn as embodied in Abraham Linconln. In a tribute to this president and an inspiration for children from other impovershed backgrounds, Mary Pope Osborne included some original letters from cousins, friends, and Abe's stepmohter- and Sarah Lincoln's. What the reader hears is that Abe Lincoln was hard working, thoughtful, caring, and an obedient son and family member who did his best to rise above his most humble and poor origins. Frank and Annie's tale may be fantasy, but Osborne sprinkles in enough facts with inspiring fantasies and events where the two meet Lincoln as a child and adult to enchant any child looking for a role model. Abe Lincoln's simple, and in my mind clearly multicultural background from an Appalachian family, ways of comic story telling mixed with humility, ambition, and fierce prosaic and logical speech may have been the perfect person to fix the swiftly unraveling republic of the United States. That Osborne is able to capture that backwoods cultural life that Lincoln leaned on heavily during the Civil War and inspire young children to use their talents both academic and cultural accordingly is a credit to her writing skill. ...more "

Jun 03, 2013 12:54PM · see review