
Reach for this book when you have a middle schooler who claims history is boring or a reader who loves heist movies but needs to build their nonfiction stamina. It is the perfect bridge for kids who prefer high stakes thrillers over dry textbooks. The story follows a real life 1875 plot by a gang of counterfeiters to steal Abraham Lincoln's body and hold it for ransom to free their leader from prison. While the premise sounds macabre, Steve Sheinkin focuses on the suspenseful cat and mouse game between the bumbling criminals and the fledgling Secret Service. It explores themes of justice and the messy reality of early American law enforcement. For parents, it offers a way to discuss how history is shaped by surprising, sometimes bizarre events without being overly grim. It is highly appropriate for ages 10 to 14, reading like a fast paced novel while remaining entirely factual.
Suspenseful moments during the heist and the undercover sting operation.
The book deals with the attempted desecration of a grave, but the approach is historical and procedural rather than horrific. Death is treated with secular reverence for Lincoln's legacy. The resolution is realistic: some criminals escape initially, but justice eventually catches up with them.
A 12-year-old boy or girl who loves 'Ocean's Eleven' or true crime podcasts and wants a book that moves fast. It is also excellent for students who struggle with abstract historical concepts and need a concrete, character-driven narrative to stay engaged.
Read the first chapter with your child to help them keep track of the different names in the counterfeiting ring. It is mostly a 'cold read,' but knowing the Secret Service originally fought money-faking, not just protecting presidents, adds great context. A parent might notice their child is disinterested in social studies or finds history 'useless.' This book is the antidote to that specific complaint.
Younger readers (10-11) will focus on the 'gross' and 'cool' factor of the grave robbery. Older readers (13-14) will better appreciate the political climate of the 1870s and the irony of the bumbling criminals.
Unlike many Lincoln biographies, this focuses on his afterlife and the chaotic state of post-Civil War law enforcement. Sheinkin's 'cinematic nonfiction' style is the gold standard for middle-grade history.
In 1875, a ring of counterfeiters led by Big Jim Kennally hatched a plan to steal Abraham Lincoln's body from his tomb in Springfield, Illinois. Their goal was to ransom the remains for $200,000 and the release of their master engraver from prison. The narrative tracks the clumsy recruitment of the gang, the infiltration by an undercover operative, and the dramatic, if disorganized, sting operation led by the Secret Service on election night.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
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