“Young Lincoln” by Jan Jacobi
Braydon Denney in “The Better Angels,” by A. J. Edwards.
Young Lincoln is a novel about the childhood and young adult years of Abraham Lincoln. Abe himself tells the story of his years in Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. Abe encounters the same problems that young adults have faced for generations: tension with a demanding parent; the need for friendship and the need to be alone; feeling shy and awkward around girls; recurrent depression; and what path to follow in his life. Using primary sources, drawing mostly on materials gathered by Lincolns law partner, William H. Herndon, Jan Jacobi gives young adult readers a portrait of Abraham Lincoln they do not encounter in their history books. Abe has serious doubts and concerns about his future, his ability to cope with loss, his lack of religious faith, and his relationship with his father. It is a youth and young adulthood of struggle, doubt, and loss–and there is no guarantee he will survive it. Bowker has grades 5-8
About the Author
Jan Jacobi has taught middle school English and humanities in three schools for over 40 years. He grew up in New York and came to St. Louis in 1982. For 27 years, he served as Head of Lower School at St. Louis Country Day School and Head of Middle School at MICDS. For the past five years he has taught 7th and 8th grade humanities at the St. Michael School in Clayton. In 2014 he was recognized as middle school teacher of the year by St. Louis Magazine. Ever since he came to St. Louis, he has been reading and writing about Abraham Lincoln. To celebrate Lincolns birthday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has published a number of his articles. He and his wife Ginger have three grown children, and they live with three dogs and a cat. His interests are gardening, and like Abraham Lincoln, reading the newspapers.
This presentation is part of the monthly 2018 history speaker series sponsored by SCHS at Friendship Village South in Sunset Hills.
See list of all 2018 SCHS events
