James A. Garfield

by Deborah Kent

NATIONAL STANDARDS: National Social Studies Standards: Grades 5-8 POWER, AUTHORITY, & GOVERNANCE: VI- provides the life stories of representative American leaders- identifies basic features of the U.S. political system- describes how government powers are acquired, used, and justified- describes how governments respond to forces of unity and diversity- explains conditions that contribute to conflict and cooperation within the U.S. and with other nationsCIVIC IDEALS AND PRACTICES: X- examines origins and influence of democratic-republican ideals--human dignity, liberty, justice, equality, the rule of law- explores the roles of public opinion, citizen action, and political actors in shaping public policies

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Presidents

110 pages, Library Binding

First published January 9, 2003

About the author

Deborah Kent was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby Little Falls. She graduated from Oberlin College and received a master's degree from Smith College School for Social Work. For four years, she was a social worker at University Settlement House on New York's Lower East Side. In 1975, Ms. Kent moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where she wrote her first young-adult novel, Belonging. In San Miguel, Ms. Kent helped to found the Centro de Crecimiento, a school for children with disabilities. Ms. Kent is the author of numerous young-adult novels and nonfiction titles for children. She lives in Chicago with her husband, children's author R. Conrad Stein, and their daughter, Janna.

Reviews

[David Dunlap · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book -- written f0r younger readers -- details the life and accomplishments of the 20th President of the United States, James A. Garfield of Ohio. There is a surprising amount of detail in the book, and, for the most part, the author does a pretty good job of untangling the complexities of finance and the workings of government. The portrait of Garfield that emerges is a fairly rounded one: his considerable strengths are discussed, though a bit less attention is devoted to the flaws in his character. They are mentioned or alluded to, but rather glossed over. (Perhaps this was a conscious decision on the part of the author, considering the audience for whom she was writing...?) Unfortunately, Garfield's death from an assassin's bullet a short time into his administration makes it difficult to assess how good a President he was -- or might have become. -- One feature of the books in this series that have been encountered thus far is the timeline in the back, punctuated with miniature reproductions of the very pictures and artwork that have appeared earlier in the text, which serves to anchor events in the reader's mind. Recommended!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good basic bio

[Shelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another nice addition to this presidential series for middle school - high school level. I didn't enjoy this one as much as some of the others. The information was more "text book" dull than it needed to be considering that Garfield was a fascinating man who grew up with nothing and made so much of himself through hard work and curiosity. One can only speculate what he would have achieved if his life and presidency hasn't been cut short so soon by an mentally-ill office seeker with entitlement issues.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked it