Thaddeus Stevens: The Making of a Hero

What was Thaddeus Stevens's role in American history? For many years, he was dishonored in books and the media, his important role in politics and civil rights buried in archival accounts, until the showing of the movie Lincoln. That movie highlighted his pivotal role in the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution. This book tells a fictional story about Thad-his nickname-during his formative years when he lived with his brothers and extended family in Danville, Vermont. Thad spent his childhood years working on his family farm, seeking to overcome the bullying that he endured because of his clubfoot and sort through his feelings for his alcoholic father and uncle. Thad had a strong attachment to his mother, who strongly believed in education for her boys. After getting into trouble with drinking and gambling, a relative offers him a job as a page in an actual historical legislative session in his hometown. Thad then helps two runaways find safety and protection from slave catchers. While tweeners read, study, and interact with the formation of Thad's flawed character, his challenges, his developing interest in the legislative process, and his strong opinions about slavery, they also learn important 19th-century history. This historical fiction story fills a void in books for middle school students that make historical figures and historical periods come alive. Some suggested activities for further study and appendices provide opportunities for further learning for both students and their teachers.