Our country has a long history of citizens who have fought for social changeamong them, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. This chronological account traces Roosevelts unique path from privileged upbringing to fierce crusader for social justice. Cooper acknowledges the people in Eleanors life who helped raise her consciousness; among them, her husband Franklin, who, as a state senator, became a suffragist. Even while her reputation as an advocate and ally grew, Roosevelt was not without fault. Cooper notes that she was initially oblivious to many of the injustices of her day, including the plight of African Americans during the Great Depression. It took personal connectionsinteractions with educator Mary McLeod Bethune and activist Pauli Murrayto prompt her to take action. The reader witnesses the First Ladys evolution into a staunch advocate for people of color, supporting anti-lynching legislation, the integration of the armed forces, and equal benefits from the New Deal programs. Accompanied by historical photos, a bibliography, a timeline, and excerpts from Eleanor Roosevelts speeches and letters, this compact biography is a worthwhile introduction to one of Americas most prominent social activists. eboni njoku (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This biography of Eleanor Roosevelt portrays her as a tireless champion of the underdog and a high-profile advocate for civil and human rights. Using her subject's first name, Cooper focuses on Eleanor's involvement in the civil rights movement but notes that even in her 30s she "paid virtually no attention to the difficulties of African Americans who faced prejudice every daydespite the fact she was aware of the turmoil in the black community." Not until she was first lady did racial injustice gain Eleanor's full attention, partly due to her surrounding herself with such activists as Mary McLeod Bethune, Walter White, and Pauli Murray. Cooper writes that an awakening came when she helped raise money for Arthurdale, a planned community in West Virginia for out-of-work coal miners. Eleanor was shocked to learn that whites who had lived together with blacks in poverty for decades refused to let them join the community. This led Eleanor to understand "how corrosive the systemic segregation of African Americans was." Cooper chronicles how she did everything possible to keep civil rights a focus of the Roosevelt administration, including such piquant details as her insistence on attending a public event against the advice of the FBI and with her pistol to protect herself against the Klan, which had issued a $25,000 bounty. Cooper is silent on Roosevelt's romantic relations with other women, however.A muscular and admiring profile in moral courage. (photos, timeline, notes, bibliography) (Biography. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr 6-9-An eye-opening journey through Eleanor Roosevelt's life, career, and social justice work. Cooper tells the life story of Roosevelt in chronological chapters beginning with her lonely childhood, then the joy and challenges of her marriage to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and her subsequent career as a politician's wife during significant historical events. There is a focus on the Depression and the resulting government programs to help poverty-stricken Americans and the civil rights movements of the 1930s and 1940s. The author's meticulous research creates a realistic portrayal of Roosevelt by including her achievements and also recognizing the limitations of her upbringing and status which affected Roosevelt's social justice work. Her correspondence with civil rights activist Pauli Murray is included as an example of her ignorance of the plight of African Americans and her willingness to learn and change. Cooper mentions how Roosevelt's beliefs were tempered by the political expectations of her husband and his party, both of which often restrained her from speaking out. A variety of photographs effectively aid the story and detailed back matter includes one of Roosevelt's speeches on civil liberties. VERDICT An engaging biography that will greatly enhance middle school collections.-Casey O'Leary, Mooresville Public Library, IN © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.