Sometimes there is a happening in our lives that changes the way we think about ourselves and sends us along a new path. These turning points can come when we are young—through a person we meet, an experience we have, a difficulty we overcome. ~ Judith St. George

For young Abraham Lincoln, a turning point in his life comes in 1818, when the nine-year-old boy loses his “angel mother” to milk sickness (an illness that comes from drinking poisoned milk). With Nancy Lincoln’s death, Abe loses the guiding force in his life.

Abe’s father knows that he and his family need help if they are to survive in the Indiana wilderness. So he hitches up his wagon and goes to Kentucky. When he returns home, he brings along his new wife, Sally. Abe is unsure what to make of his stepmother, but Sally sees something unique in the boy. She encourages him to continue his love of reading and learning. Though he never forgets his mother’s love, Abraham Lincoln comes to realize that his stepmother’s love is just as strong in helping him on his way to greatness.

Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln by Judith St. George, reminds us that not all great men are born great. Some, like Abraham Lincoln, are given turning points that change the course of their lives.