Eleanor Roosevelt: A Newbery Honor Award Winner (Clarion Nonfiction)

I was really surprised by this book. I was expecting an average biography, but I was pulled in from the opening page. As a child, Eleanor Roosevelt was told constantly by her mother to develop her social skills and manners because she didn't have any looks. The daughter of the wealthy and socially prominent Roosevelt family, niece to Theodore Roosevelt, Eleanor had a close relationship with her father, but felt inferior to her beautiful and disapproving mother. Eleanor's early family life was torn with unhappiness as her mother became estranged from her alcoholic father. Eleanor was mostly raised by her grandmother when the family moved in after the separation of her mother and father, and the death of both her parents by age ten. Eleanor first begin to develop her amazing personality when she went to finishing school at fifteen in Europe. She was very intelligent and a favorite of the girls and headmistress. After her coming out in New York at eighteen, Eleanor and her distant cousin Franklin became secretly engaged, and married after Franklin finished law school. Eleanor was interested in Franklin and helping him as he became active in politics. Eleanor became devastated after learning of Franklin's affair with Lucy Mercer. This was the catalyst that capitulated Eleanor to become the independent woman and political fighter for women's rights and human injustice. Although Eleanor eventually decided to continued her marriage to Franklin, and was a faithful and true supporter of his political aspirations, she lost the love of their early marriage. She built a life around her children and the many friendships she had made from the political committees and travels she was to take for her now husband President who was paralyzed from polio. She loved being an educator and serving the poor and downtrodden. She was an advisor to her husband, and had great influence on his policies. When President Franklin died, she was appointed to many important committees and continued to serve the public under several other presidents. She was an avid writer and speaker who traveled the world to bring support and relief to those in need. Eleanor became know as the Most Influential Woman of her lifetime. She was loved by many and hated by her dissenters. This is her story. Once reading this biography you will never forget her courage, her love of life, her heart for the bettering of the American people, and her worldwide mission to help those in need. This is an exceptional read.

I'd studied the Roosevelt era, watched movies about Franklin Roosevelt's presidency, knew that Eleanor Roosevelt was a very bright, articulate and "headstrong" wife...but I confess, that was about the extent of what I knew about her. I first got this book from the library as an assignment for one of the children I homeschool. I was trying to find "real life" heroes for them above and beyond Wonder Woman and Spiderman!I read the book first myself and was amazed at this woman. She was incredible! It was made all the more poignant for me because my father was one of the servicemen she met on one of her overseas trips. I enjoyed the many pictures, but the writing was great and the story compelling. My great niece enjoyed the book too.I enjoyed it so much that I decided I wanted a hardback cover book for my own library...hence, this purchase. It will be one of the "hand-me-downs" to other family members. In the meantime, I don't have words any more compelling than these to encourage others to purchase and read this book. I'm sure you'll admire and respect Eleanor Roosevelt as much as I do...she goes way above and beyond politics!

As a fan, still, of Eleanor Roosevelt, I was anxious to read her words and see how they would encourage this writer in her quest.The result did not disappoint, although it did make me feel like a couch potato! I think the idea of facing one's fears, without worrying if we look foolish is something I have taken away from the book.

This book offers meaningful insight into one of the great women of recent history. It is easy reading with complex content. The relationship between Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, her upbringing and the life she was put into through the politics of her husband, her opportunities and capacities to impact her world, and the politics of WWII, all integrated, and highlighted with photographs, interviews, and background.

This book is a short biography of Eleanor Roosevelt. It cover all the main parts of her life from early childhood to her death. It includes several pictures of herself, her family and friend. It is a great book for young adults and adults of all ages.

Though this is more of an overview of Eleanor Roosevelt's life, it's a very good guide.If you want to dig deeper into the Roosevelts, check out Julie Fenster's book on FDR.

Easy to read. Very informative

This is for a little older a child than the one I ordered it for, but it's a great introduction to Eleanor Roosevelt for a child of around 9 or 10.

Bought for my sons home schooling as part of required reading and I started to flick through but could not put the book down and ended up reading the whole thing! Eleanor Roosevelt was responsible for so many changes in the world today that I didn't realise! So much information and great pictures to use for history projects etc!

excellent book