For the child who loves true historical mysteries, this gripping book uncovers a real, wild plot to steal Abraham Lincoln's body. It's a thrilling look at a secret piece of history.
A parent might reach for this book when their history-loving child craves a story that reads like a high-stakes thriller, not a dry textbook. "Lincoln's Grave Robbers" recounts the astonishingly true and little-known plot by a gang of counterfeiters to steal Abraham Lincoln's body and hold it for ransom. Steve Sheinkin masterfully weaves together the stories of the criminals, the detectives, and the Secret Service agents racing to stop them. It explores themes of justice, ingenuity, and the bizarre corners of American history. Perfect for middle graders, this book is a fantastic choice for making history come alive, demonstrating that true stories can be more exciting than fiction.
The book follows a group of criminals and their plans in detail, which may be compelling.
Sensitive Topics
The book's central theme is grave robbing and the desecration of a corpse. The topic of death is central but treated in a historical, non-gory, and procedural context. It is a secular approach focused on the crime and its prevention. The resolution is realistic: the criminals are caught, but their legal punishment is surprisingly light due to the unusual nature of the crime, which offers a moment of historical irony.
Ideal Reader
A 10 to 14-year-old who loves true crime, detective stories, or "weird history" podcasts but finds traditional history books boring. This is for the reader who enjoys intricate plots, real-life heists, and stories where the truth is stranger than fiction.
Parent Prep
No major prep is needed; the book is self-contained. Sheinkin provides excellent context about counterfeiting, the Secret Service's origins, and the post-Civil War era. Parents could preview the "rogues' gallery" of characters at the beginning to familiarize themselves with the key players. The author's note at the end is also very illuminating. The child says, "History is so boring, it's just a bunch of dates." Or a parent is looking for a nonfiction book that has the pacing and excitement of a popular fiction series like "Alex Rider" or "The 39 Clues".
Age Experience
A younger reader (10-11) will likely focus on the thrilling cat-and-mouse chase, the "cops and robbers" aspect, and the sheer audacity of the crime. An older reader (12-14) will appreciate the historical context more deeply: the role of counterfeiting in the 19th-century economy, the infancy of the Secret Service, and the legal loopholes that the criminals almost exploited.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many historical nonfiction books for this age, it is structured and paced like a suspense novel. Sheinkin uses primary sources to create a narrative that feels immediate and character-driven. Its focus on a single, bizarre historical event makes it highly accessible and memorable, rather than providing a broad, generic overview of an era.
Read plot summary
A group of counterfeiters, led by "Big Jim" Kennally, plots to steal Abraham Lincoln's corpse from its tomb in Springfield, Illinois. Their goal is to ransom the body for the release of their master engraver, Ben Boyd, from prison. The newly formed Secret Service gets wind of the plot and works with local law enforcement to set up a sting operation to catch the grave robbers in the act on election night, 1876. The narrative switches between the perspectives of the criminals and the lawmen, building suspense until the final confrontation at the tomb.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The grave robbers' main goal was to free their friend, Ben Boyd. Do you think their loyalty to him justified their criminal plan? Why or why not?
2
The Secret Service was originally created to fight counterfeiters, not to protect the president. How did this story change your idea of what the Secret Service does?
3
At the end of the book, the criminals receive a very light sentence because there were no specific laws against stealing a body for ransom. Did this outcome feel fair to you?
4
Steve Sheinkin uses photos and excerpts from real documents. How did seeing these real-life artifacts affect your experience of reading this true story?
