Voyages: Reminiscences of Young Abe Lincoln

A parent gave me Voyages: Reminiscences of Young Abe Lincoln by Neil Walman as a gift at the end of a school year, knowing that I love books and am also interested in history. In an introductory page Walman explains that the book was inspired by primary documents providing glimpses into Lincoln's trips down the Mississippi River, which prompted him to think about slavery. Thus, the title refers to both the physical voyage and an internal voyage. The remaining book is divided into four sections (First Voyage, Second Voyage, Third Voyage, and The Auction Block).

Walman told the story in a unique way in first person through Lincoln's eyes. He noted that he would put direct quotes from Lincoln in brown text to distinguish between his own words and the president's, seamlessly incorporate Lincoln's own words without interrupting the flow. At the end of the book there is a sources page, which explains in more detail the documents where Walman excerpted Lincoln's statements. It seems that using this format, there would be some blurring between fact and fiction, much like memoir writing where it is necessary to fill in gaps at times in a best effort to preserve the events. Only, in this case, it was not Waldman's own experiences, so his intent would be basing his words on what he knew about the historical time period and from other documents. It would be helpful to discuss with the difference between the black and brown text and implications for interpretations. Even though the format is directly stated at the start of the book, it would still be pertinent to discuss.

The words, including those from Walman as Lincoln, have a historical flavor. Otherwise, there would have been a disconnect between the two types of text. This may present challenges for some readers who are not as familiar with phrases from the time period; yet, much of it can be grasped through context. In addition, the pages have a faint background coloring simulating worn, older documents also adding to the overall aesthetics of the book.

At 32 pages, this is a quick book, but it will provide readers with glimpses into events that shaped Abraham Lincoln's perspective as he was transitioning into adulthood.

His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg

I was intrigued to hear that Louise Borden's His Name Was Raoul Wallenberg: Courage, Rescue, and Mystery During World War II was an informational text in verse. For the past few years, I have been drawn to the verse format and wondered how it would fit with a biographical text. While at times, it seemed like the text read like regular prose and could have just as easily been in regular paragraphs, there were other times, especially as the book progressed, that the verse format helped to build suspense and anticipation or to strengthen the impact of certain ideas.

Sparked by a book that author Louise Borden read about Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, Borden conveys glimpses into Raoul's life and shares a piece of history related to World War II with which many are unfamiliar. Confronted with the horrors of the era, Wallenberg could have stayed within the safety of his homeland, neutral Sweden; however, he felt morally compelled to do anything he could to protect life when given the opportunity. Through his creativity, he was able to save the lives of many Hungarian Jews, risking his own life in the process.

When I was reading through, I wondered why they chose a childhood image when most of the content that they were highlighting was from his adult life. However, that connection between his childhood convictions and the man he ended up being became apparent later in the book.

Broken into 15 sections, Borden shared background about Raoul, accompanied by photographs, maps, historical documents, and drawings. Working closely with the family, Borden was able to thoroughly research and organize relevant information to capture the essence of Wallenberg and his life story.

Previously I had an essential question linked to reading workshop along the lines of "How do people respond to the events that shape their lives?" This would be an excellent text to complement that question, providing examples of different responses as well as discussions of decisions.

It would also be a natural fit to increase understanding of the complexities of World War II. In recent years I have been reflecting on what I remember learning about Europe during that time period and how as an adult I have realized there is still so much that I am unaware of. Ruta Sepetys' Between Shades of Gray provoked a similar sensation. With history, it is so valuable to provide a range of perspectives, and this book is a great supplement to add another voice to the time period. After reading the book, I would imagine students will be interested in learning more. I would like to read Hitler's Youth soon, and would be interested to see if it would complement this book well.

Aside from all the book has to offer related to content, it is also rich in possibilities for writing workshop as a mentor text. I look forward to showing exposing my students to exploring history through verse.