Parents' Guide to

Lincoln's Grave Robbers

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Fascinating nonfiction account of little-known conspiracy.

Book Steve Sheinkin History 2013
Lincoln's Grave Robbers Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

J T.
J T. Parent
June 15, 2023
age 12+

Swearing not mentioned in CM review

Just letting parents who might care know that there are actually 2 religious exclamations and 3 mild obscenities.

This title has:

Too much swearing
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

After master counterfeiter Benjamin Boyd was arrested by the Secret Service in 1875, his confederates devise a plot to steal the remains of President Abraham Lincoln and ransom them for Boyd's release (plus a large amount of cash). It's up to Patrick Tyrrell, Chief Operative of the Chicago District of the Secret Service, to foil the plan. With the aid of Lewis C. Swegles, a career criminal turned double agent, Tyrrell and his men prepare to meet the would-be grave robbers at the run-down Lincoln Monument on a chaotic election night.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (3 ):

LINCOLN'S GRAVE ROBBERS is an exciting, fast-paced and well-researched chronicle of a little-known sidelight of post-Civil War history. It provides the right amount of background on the history of counterfeiting in America, then gets down to the twisty tale of a plot to steal a beloved president's remains. The real-life cast is populated with some fascinating characters, from upright lawmen to conniving counterfeiters to a slippery double agent. Author Steve Sheinkin presents the material with clear prose and an eye for the telling detail.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why the theft of a late U.S. president's body would be so shocking and traumatic to the nation. What do you know about Lincoln that made him especially loved and especially controversial?

  • How does Author Steve Sheinkin write history in a way that makes it as engaging and entertaining as a good novel? What's the difference between fiction and nonfiction?

  • Does counterfeiting still occur in the United States? How have changes in technology affected the production of counterfeit bills?

Book Details

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