Profiles of Integrity Volume 2

What is boldness? How does someone show initiative? What does it mean to be wise, tolerant, or sensitive? When it comes to understanding and developing character traits, biographical stories are a powerful tool.  

Powerful not only because they so effectively illustrate virtues but also because your young reader doesn’t feel preached at.  The 10 stories in Profiles of Integrity Vol. 2 are engrossing!  

• Instead of being told, “You should be truthful,” they will read about Sacagawea who accurately translated and reported facts during the Corps of Discovery expedition, even leading them through the Rocky Mountains on their return journey. 
• Instead of hearing that gentleness is an attractive virtue, they get consumed with the story of President Abraham Lincoln who showed compassion to a young, dying Confederate soldier, comforting him and praying with him despite their opposing sides.
• Instead of being admonished to be more orderly, they see how Colonel Charles Marshall’s meticulous record-keeping ensured that the surrender terms at Appomattox Court House were accurately drafted, playing a vital role in officially ending the Civil War. 

Packed with adventure, danger, and real historical drama, these books keep your students turning pages as they devour tales of daring raids, clever ingenuity, sacrificial love, and harrowing battles.  

Ten Key Virtues 

In ten biographical sketches, see how a figure from American or British history demonstrates a key virtue.  

1. Boldness ~ Captain John S. Mosby  
2. Gentleness ~ President Abraham Lincoln  
3. Initiative ~ Colonel John Hunt Morgan 
4. Orderliness ~ Colonel Charles Marshall  
5. Respectfulness ~ Francis Scott Key 
6. Sensitivity ~ General Robert E. Lee 
7. Tolerance ~ William Booth  
8. Truthfulness ~ Sacagawea 
9. Virtue ~ Queen Victoria 
10. Wisdom ~ Matthew Fontaine Maury 

Relatable Emotions & Challenges 
Each sketch puts readers in the shoes of people or those facing tough situations — death, hostility, natural threats, and breakthroughs. Kids see themselves in these moments, not just as passive learners but as participants in the story. 

Unexpected Heroes 
Not all the heroes are famous or powerful. Some are teens, outsiders, or people who overcame huge obstacles. This makes the stories feel accessible and inspiring to kids who might not see themselves as perfect role models. 

Interactive Questions 
Each chapter ends with questions that invite readers to imagine themselves in the story, reflect on choices, and think about what they’d do. This reflection turns reading into a personal adventure, not just a history lesson. 

Book Format 
While the stories are ordered chronologically, each chapter can stand alone if desired. Each biographical sketch will take approximately 30 minutes to read aloud. 

Each chapter is introduced with a definition of the virtue demonstrated and a relevant Bible memory verse. At the close of each story, comprehension questions help check for understanding while application questions foster discussion to bring the virtues into modern life.  

Marilyn Boyer, a descendant of a Revolutionary War soldier and daughter of a World War II veteran, is deeply patriotic and passionate about America’s Christian history. As the wife of an Air Force veteran, mother and home educator of fourteen children, and grandmother of twenty-eight, Marilyn’s dedication to family and country is unparalleled.

Marilyn has brought to life the stories of the 56 noble men who pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to secure our freedom in her acclaimed work, For You They Signed. Her latest series, What a Character: Notable Lives from History, also published by Master Books, continues this legacy, capturing the remarkable stories of historical figures who shaped our nation.

In the early 1980s, Marilyn and her husband were pioneers of the modern home education movement. Together, they founded The Learning Parent ministry and Character Concepts, authored dozens of books, and traveled extensively to speak at homeschool and Christian parenting conferences. Their mission is to encourage, inspire, and challenge parents training the next generation of Americans. Their books have circulated worldwide and been translated into several foreign languages, spreading their message across the globe.

Grace Tumas Ehrman holds a degree in history from Liberty University. Her paper, “Warlords and Samurais: Japanese Interventionists in Siberia During the Russian Civil War, 1918-1922,” won an award at the 2013 Phi Alpha Theta History Conference. She specializes in American and Russian history.