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Searching... Stillwater Public Library | J 921 ROOSEVELT | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Two-term president. Nobel Peace Prize winner. Commander of the Rough Riders. Avid conservationist. Adventurer. All of these and more, Theodore Roosevelt lived his long life to the fullest and left a legacy still remembered more than ninety years after his death. He started his long, successful political career at just twenty-three in New York State, and continued working in the public arena until well after his second term as president. Up Close biographer Michael C. Cooper takes readers beyond T.R.'s bold-faced achievements and explores the driving forces behind one of this country's greatest leaders.
Author Notes
Michael Cooper is the author of fifteen nonfiction books for children, including Dust to Eat . He lives in southeastern Kentucky.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 7-10-This trim and extremely readable biography portrays the 26th president's full and varied life. Cooper draws on many sources to weave a story of the sickly child who grew into a robust, energetic man with seemingly boundless energy. He covers various facets of TR's life: naturalist, cowboy, soldier, author, loving husband, doting father, civil servant, and unexpected (but very successful) president. While striking an admiring tone, the author stops short of painting only a glowing picture of Roosevelt. He discusses his subject's abuses of power and often-foolhardy behavior. Colorful quotations demonstrate TR's humor and character. Black-and-white photos and reproductions illustrate the volume. This title is more concise than Betsy Harvey Kraft's Theodore Roosevelt: Champion of the American Spirit (Clarion, 2003) or Matt Donnelly's Theodore Roosevelt: Larger Than Life (Linnet, 2002). It is a compelling summary of a man who is credited with enlarging our national parks, beginning the construction of the Panama Canal, ending a war between Russia and Japan, "busting" trusts and cracking down on corrupt big business, and being "the most popular man in America" at the end of his administration.-Lisa Crandall, formerly at Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
(Middle School, High School) After giving refreshingly short shrift to the familiar story of TR as a young boy overcoming asthma and living up to his father's wishes, Cooper focuses his biography on Roosevelt the man: husband, father, politician, adventurer, and champion of the progressive government. (Although the term progressive isn't completely defined until well into the book, in this case actions speak louder than words.) It's a rousing tale, full of the passions of both the man and his times. Pertinent quotes show the juggling act between Republican Party politics and Roosevelt's own popularity. For example, after McKinley's assassination, "Old Guard" Republican Mark Hanna comments: "I told William McKinley that it was a mistake to nominate that wild man...Now look, that damned cowboy is President of the United States!" Cooper also covers Roosevelt's post-presidency, a period often presented as a near-footnote in many biographies, but one that captures the sum of the man's personal failures and political ambition. Appended with a bibliography, source notes for direct quotes, and an index. From HORN BOOK, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
From the Up Close series, this biography presents an evenhanded account of the life and presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. A frail, sickly child, Roosevelt was encouraged to exercise vigorously and spend time outdoors, advice that he followed for the rest of his days. His energetic approach to life and politics led to reform within the country and an aggressive stance in the world. This clearly written biography includes many anecdotes and well-chosen quotes that help bring Roosevelt to life. Though Cooper notes in the foreword his strong affinity for Roosevelt, this feeling never gets in the way of the book's candid assessment of the man's faults, which balances its appreciative account of his good qualities. Appendices include a bibliography and source notes. Cooper offers a solid portrayal of this noteworthy American president.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2009 Booklist
