Families who loved If You Please, President Lincoln! by Harriette Gillem Robinet often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is beginning to question the complexities of history or struggling with the realization that a 'win' doesn't always mean the end of a struggle. It is an ideal choice for readers who feel a sense of injustice about the world and are ready to explore the nuanced reality of what happens after a major promise is made but not fully kept. The story follows fourteen year old Moses, a former slave who joins a real life, failed 1863 colonization project on a Caribbean island sanctioned by Abraham Lincoln. Through Moses's eyes, children explore themes of resilience, the meaning of true independence, and the courage required to survive when systems of power fail. It is a powerful tool for parents wanting to move beyond textbook versions of the Civil War into deeper conversations about agency and identity. Best for ages 8 to 12, this historical adventure offers a gritty yet hopeful perspective on Black history that is rarely taught in schools.
