An Unlikely Friendship, by Ann Rinaldi

An Unlikely Friendship: A Novel of Mary Todd Lincoln and Elizabeth Keckley, by Ann Rinaldi, reviewed by Deborah Trombley, YA/Adult Librarian Butman-Fish Library
(Harcourt, 241 pages, c2007, $17.00)
Recommended for teens grade 6 and older

This is a compelling look at the lives of two women, one who grew up in a wealthy Southern home and became the wife of the president of the United States, the other who was born a slave and eventually purchased her own freedom. The book is divided into two parts, each woman sharing their childhood story about a time when the county was divided between black and white and how they found the courage to overcome this and become devoted friends. It’s a great selection for African-American History Month or Women’s History Month.