President Lincoln, Willie Kettles, and the Telegraph Machine (History Speaks)

Marty Rhodes Figley
Lerner Classroom (2010)
ISBN 9780761361312
Reviewed by Evan Weldon (age 9) for Reader Views (8/11)

“President Lincoln, Willie Kettles, and the Telegraph Machine” by Marty Rhodes Figley is about fifteen-year-old Willie Kettles who was a telegrapher at the US War Department during the Civil War.  Willie took the message that said that General Grant had taken over Richmond, Virginia from the Confederates.  What I found most interesting about this book was that Willie Kettles was only fifteen but he had a really important job!

President Lincoln is not a main character in the book, but, obviously, he was important to the Civil War.  The book said that Lincoln made frequent visits to the telegraph office and tells of one true incident with Lincoln and Willie.  When Willie’s boss reprimanded him for leaving his desk and looking at a bird book, President Lincoln entered the office and told a joke about his messy hair to lighten the mood.

The back of this book had a script for a play (reader’s theater) about the story of Willie Kettles.  My brothers and I read the play, and it was kind of fun.  The play helped me to remember the story better.

I would recommend “President Lincoln, Willie Kettles, and the Telegraph Machine” to people who like history.  There is nothing gory or scary in this book.  I think pretty much everyone would find it interesting.

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