“America’s Young Heroes, A Journal For You, Learn About Yourself, Learn The Lessons of the Civil War by Vera Ripp Hirschhorn is a wonderful tool…Children read diary accounts of heroic actions taken by young people involved in the Civil War. They are encouraged to think about the impact of war on families from the view point of different races, cultures and sides. The book provides information to “check it out” further in your local library, Internet and encyclopedia.

The children are asked to think about what they would have done in various situations and to explore and express their feelings. The opportunity to journal, draw and speak their ideas and feelings are encouraged through thoughtful questions. The “Hero Checklist” examines the qualities of heroes and lets the children look at people they know and themselves for these attributes.

This book not only gives us lessons in history, research and writing, but also encourages thinking and exploration of feelings and consciences. It is a fabulous tool for character development.”
Educator

“I thought it was cool because the book told about lives of kids like me during the Civil War. It describes the difficult situations they faced and the choices they made. It made me realize that it isn’t just soldiers in a war and how even today kids are involved in these conflicts. This book made me think about different issues I don’t normally think about. I really explored myself and what makes a person a hero.
Student

"We learn about America's history and I can remember it better-the people are closer to my age."
"I learned from these biographies that kids can also be heroes."
"It's part of the history of children from a long time ago that we should learn about."
"I like reading about childhood adventures."
"It's fun to see the changes children my age have made."
Students

"Learn About Yourself, Learn the Lessons of the Civil War" is an interesting idea and will surely make for a wonderful learning tool in the classroom. You've done a great job of finding the interesting details during the Civil War and making them interesting to teenagers of today. This is a very clever way of making history real and relevant and the project is both unique and dynamic....."
Teen Coordinator at the Boca Raton Public Library

At 17, Vinnie Ream announced her desire to sculpt President Lincoln. Initially,she tried to portray Lincoln from memory after seeing him on the streets or theatres of Washington, D.C. She also used photographs and finally a bas relief as well as a clay bust. Discontented with the results, she realized that she had to model Lincoln from life, which she did in December, 1864.

(Excerpt from Vinnie's Diary):
"Lincoln had been painted and modeled before and when friends of mine first asked him to sit for me, he dismissed them wearily until he was told that I was but an ambitious girl, poor and obscure. He granted me sittings for no other reason than I was in need. Had I been the greatest sculptor in the world, I am quite sure I would have been refused." "I was a mere slip of a child, weighing less than 90 pounds and the contrast between the raw-boned man and me was great. I sat in my corner and begged Mr. Lincoln not to allow me to disturb him. He seemed to find a sort of companionship in being with me, though we talked but little. His favorite son, Willie had just died and this had been the greatest personal loss in his life. I made him think of Willie and he often said so and as often wept….."

Question: What would you have done to earn money for your family?
In 1861, at the time Vinnie's brother enlisted, Vinnie helped out with the family's finances by becoming the first female clerk in the U.S. Post Office. At age 15, she was earning $50.00 a month.