School Library Journal
03/01/2018
Gr 2–5—In this lengthy narrative, Bowman recounts the tale of Abraham Lincoln's almost-duel in 1842, when he served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. In an effort to prove that everyone makes mistakes and to exemplify the power of an apology, the author details a provocative letter that Lincoln submitted to a newspaper anonymously. One thing led to another and Lincoln was challenged to a duel. Bowman adds levity and appeal through the use of a Midwestern dialect, second-person point of view, and figurative language that readily evokes time and place. Schindler's illustrations, done in watercolor and ink, are a perfect accompaniment to this moralistic story. Back matter includes additional information about mudslinging, the Aunt Rebecca Letters (as the anonymous letters were known), James Shields, the Illinois Banking Crisis, the author's rationale for the book, and suggestions for further reading. VERDICT An additional purchase for history buffs and Lincoln aficionados.—Lynn Van Auken, Oak Bluffs School, MA
Kirkus Reviews
2018-02-19
Abraham Lincoln gets himself into big trouble and ends up facing a political opponent in a duel.Two fellows with razor-sharp swords are on a boat together headed to Bloody Island. This may sound like the plot for a pirate adventure tale, but no, this is a true story of Abraham Lincoln and fellow Illinois politician James Shields out to settle a score in 1842, when Lincoln was a young Springfield lawyer. Shields took offense when Lincoln wrote a letter as "Aunt Rebecca" to the Sangamo Journal, a Whig paper, calling Shields a fool and a "conceity dunce." Following a rash of other letters from the fictitious lady, Shields challenged Lincoln to a duel, and off they went to Bloody Island. Lincoln didn't want to kill Shields, nor did he care to die himself, so, as the challenged man, Lincoln got to name the weapons and set the rules. He came up with a clever plan that, as things turned out, wasn't even necessary, as the duel never happened. It was an "almost-duel." Bowman's upbeat telling is infused with folksy humor, and Schindler's superb watercolor-and-ink illustrations effectively capture the period (populating scenes with an all-white cast). After all the setup, though, the conclusion is a letdown, albeit one that is true to history. A rather limp allusion to the Emancipation Proclamation attempts to connect this minor episode to what Lincoln's best known for. Backmatter offers further information and discusses the political careers of Lincoln and Shields.An attractive volume created out of an insubstantial historical anecdote. (sources) (Informational picture book. 6-9)
