Grace’s Letter to Lincoln

Summary

This is the seemingly true story of a little girl named Grace and her family, the Bedells. Her family is part of the Wide-Awake Movement, working to elect Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States. Her best friend Jennie, and her family as well, are fighting to end slavery also. Both families help a black worker named Jefferson escape to Canada. However, Grace feels that she never gets to take part in helping to make a difference. Her mom lets her help make a few banners but Grace was not satisfied with this. She takes it upon herself to write a letter to Mr. Lincoln. In this letter, she tells him that she believes it would be beneficial to him if he grew a beard or whiskers.

The reader travels on this journey of President Lincoln’s election with the Bedells. You can feel the excitement of the town as he is elected. In the end, after the slaves have received freedom and the civil war occurred, Lincoln makes a visit to Westfield, New York. During his visit, he asks to see the little girl that suggested that he grow his freshly grown beard. Grace is overcome with excitement.

The actual letter that Grace wrote to President Lincoln and the letter he returned to her are included at the end of the book.