Lincoln Clears a Path

December 1, 2020
This biography of President Abraham Lincoln focuses on his lasting impact on the use of the land. Beginning with his family's creation of a farm out of woodland when he was 7 and ending with the Emancipation Proclamation, the narrative follows Lincoln's life experiences as farmer, entrepreneur, and self-educated statesman, all the way to the presidency. The support American farmers sent to the troops in the Civil War apparently prompted Lincoln to "clear a path for America's future" with several acts of legislation: creation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; the Homestead Act, which granted 160 acres to "any citizen or immigrant, farmer or merchant, man or woman, who wanted a fair chance to make it on their own"; and the Pacific Railway Act. The creation of land-grant colleges is also given a full spread; the Emancipation Proclamation is given one page of two sentences. Innerst creates engaging, sepia-toned scenes with watercolor-based artwork, and the design of the spreads, with dark paper and handwritten lettering for quotations from Lincoln's writings, gives the feel of old documents. Sadly, the story feels dated as well; the brief backmatter mentions of the devastation settlers and the railroads caused to Indigenous nations and ways of life are grossly inadequate; the racist definition of citizens and immigrants is not addressed; and the attempt to include the contradiction of slavery within the ideal of "liberty to all" falls short, as the glorification of Lincoln as land-use innovator causes those who were excluded to fall through the gaps. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-18-inch double-page spreads viewed at 58.5% of actual size.) This interesting history lacks nuance and perspective. (author's note, historical facts, websites, selected bibliography) (Informational picture book. 6-12)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2020
Grades 3-6 Thomas's picture-book biography follows Abraham Lincoln from ages 7 through 47, when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Onomatopoeia appears throughout the story--Thwack! Swish! Thwump! Yah!-- to demonstrate how Lincoln helped ""clear paths"" throughout his life, beginning on his family's farm, where he assisted in felling trees and using a scythe to cut grasses. He held a series of jobs--store owner, surveyor, and postal worker--before friends convinced him to study law as ""He always seemed happiest when solving someone else's problem."" Some of Lincoln's accomplishments in addition to the Emancipation Proclamation are highlighted: he worked to improve roads and education, developed the Department of Agriculture to promote better farming, and created the Homestead Act to encourage migration west and the Pacific Railway Act to help move people and products across the country. Digitally completed illustrations using ink, gouache, and acrylic fill the pages with a muted palette. An author's note gives further information on Lincoln's achievements during his life and additional websites and a selected bibliography are available for further study.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.