What do you think?
Rate this book
Who Was . . . ? Series
Who Was Che Guevara?
Viva la revolución!
Find out how Che Guevara--a doctor turned communist leader and much more than a face on a T-shirt--ended up paying the ultimate price for his cause.
His very image has become associated with a spirit of rebellion, but Ernesto Guevara--known around the world simply as Che--didn't dream of becoming a revolutionary. Author Ellen Labrecque takes readers on a journey through Che's life starting with his childhood in Argentina, to his travels through South and Central America as a young physician, and ending with his final years as a key player in the Cuban revolution. His legacy--as the author of The Motorcycle Diaries, a champion of the poor, and a force for change in Cuba--is both personal and political.
Find out how Che Guevara--a doctor turned communist leader and much more than a face on a T-shirt--ended up paying the ultimate price for his cause.
His very image has become associated with a spirit of rebellion, but Ernesto Guevara--known around the world simply as Che--didn't dream of becoming a revolutionary. Author Ellen Labrecque takes readers on a journey through Che's life starting with his childhood in Argentina, to his travels through South and Central America as a young physician, and ending with his final years as a key player in the Cuban revolution. His legacy--as the author of The Motorcycle Diaries, a champion of the poor, and a force for change in Cuba--is both personal and political.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 8, 2019
Balanced first book on Che Guevara. One of the most controversial figures in modern times; I know people who hate him and people who love him. Che is one of those protean leaders who people find what they are seeking in - and once it is found there is nothing that can convince them to look deeper.
July 30, 2024
Who Was ...? biography series for middle grade brings rebellious figure of Che Guevara who was a leader of the Cuban Revolution and became a symbol of youthful rebellion.
Ernesto Guevara (1928-1967) was born in the port city of Rosario, Argentina. From young age, he craved adventure. While in school, he still traveled whenever he had a chance. While traveling, he began to write in his journal every day.
He still had two semesters of medical school to finish when his friend asked him to join him on a trip on his motorcycle to Venezuela. On this trip, they met people of different backgrounds and saw how they lived. It left a lasting consequence on Ernesto.
After graduating from medical school, he traveled to Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador.
Then, while in Guatemala, he learned about communist and how the current president of Guatemala was taking the land owned by rich people and corporations, then redistributing it to the poor. Ernesto became passionate about this idea of helping the poor. While on his travels, he met many poor people who worked hard and hardly got paid.
In Mexico City, he began his work as a doctor. There he met lots of Cubans who began calling him Che meaning friend. Through them, he met Fidel Castro, who told him about Cuba’s situation of being controlled by a small group of wealthy people, and he wanted to overthrow the government. He asked Che for help, and they succeeded. Afterwards, Castro asked Che to help him govern Cuba.
In 1964, Che spoke at UN in NYC criticizing the US and other countries for taking advantage of the land and the people of the poorer nations.
After coming back to Cuba, he decided to go to Bolivia which was run by a dictator and to try to overthrow the government. On October 8, 1967, he was captured and killed the following day.
This biography embodies true nature of a man who rebelled against injustice. As a young man, he looked for adventure and found the truth and tragedy of his country.
This illustrated biography series for young readers, ages 8-12, is presented in a relatable way, with simple sentences and enriched with insightful inserts.
Ernesto Guevara (1928-1967) was born in the port city of Rosario, Argentina. From young age, he craved adventure. While in school, he still traveled whenever he had a chance. While traveling, he began to write in his journal every day.
He still had two semesters of medical school to finish when his friend asked him to join him on a trip on his motorcycle to Venezuela. On this trip, they met people of different backgrounds and saw how they lived. It left a lasting consequence on Ernesto.
After graduating from medical school, he traveled to Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador.
Then, while in Guatemala, he learned about communist and how the current president of Guatemala was taking the land owned by rich people and corporations, then redistributing it to the poor. Ernesto became passionate about this idea of helping the poor. While on his travels, he met many poor people who worked hard and hardly got paid.
In Mexico City, he began his work as a doctor. There he met lots of Cubans who began calling him Che meaning friend. Through them, he met Fidel Castro, who told him about Cuba’s situation of being controlled by a small group of wealthy people, and he wanted to overthrow the government. He asked Che for help, and they succeeded. Afterwards, Castro asked Che to help him govern Cuba.
In 1964, Che spoke at UN in NYC criticizing the US and other countries for taking advantage of the land and the people of the poorer nations.
After coming back to Cuba, he decided to go to Bolivia which was run by a dictator and to try to overthrow the government. On October 8, 1967, he was captured and killed the following day.
This biography embodies true nature of a man who rebelled against injustice. As a young man, he looked for adventure and found the truth and tragedy of his country.
This illustrated biography series for young readers, ages 8-12, is presented in a relatable way, with simple sentences and enriched with insightful inserts.
April 6, 2025
"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍."
১৯২৮ সালে আর্জেন্টিনায় জন্মগ্রহণ করেন বিপ্লবের সন্তান এর্নোস্তো চে গুয়েভারা সংক্ষেপে চে। দুই বছর বয়সে তার মা তাকে নদীতে সাঁতার শিখাতে গেলে তিনি ভয়াবহ ঠান্ডায় আক্রান্ত হন ,যা হাঁপানি হিসেবে বাদবাকি জীবন তার সঙ্গী ছিল।
দাদির মৃত্যু ও তার শারীরিক অবস্থা সম্পর্কে চিন্তিত হয়ে তিনি ডাক্তার হওয়ার সিদ্ধান্ত নেন।ছাত্রবস্থা থেকে কার্ল মার্কস, লেনিন , নেরুদা প্রমুখের লেখালেখিতে বেশ প্রভাবিত ছিলেন।
বন্ধু আলবের্তো গ্রানাদোকে সাথে নিয়ে তিনি মোটরসাইকেলে লাতিন আমেরিকার বিভিন্ন দেশে দেশে ঘুরে বেড়ান।এই ভ্রমণে শোষিত,নিপিড়িত ও দরিদ্র মানুষের সাক্ষাতে তার মানস জগতে তীব্র আলোড়ন সৃষ্টি হয়। তাদের জন্য কিছু করার তাগিদ অনুভব করেন।এই ভ্রমণ নিয়ে তিনি the motorcycle diaries নামক বইটি লিখেন।
অতঃপর কিউবার স্বৈরশাসক বাতিস্তাকে উৎখাত করতে তিনি কাস্ত্রোর সাথে গেরিলা যুদ্ধে যোগ দেন। তিনি অবশ্য পরে স্বাধীন কিউবার শিক্ষামন্ত্রী হন।
আফ্রিকা থেকে লাতিন আমেরিকায় বিপ্লব ছড়িয়ে দিতে তিনি আবার পৃথিবীর পথে বেরিয়ে পড়েন।১৯৬৭ সালে বলিভিয়ায় এক গেরিলা যুদ্ধে তিনি গ্রেপ্তার হন ও পরে তাকে হত্যা করা হয়। তার কবর ৩০ বছর বলিভিয়ায় লুকিয়ে রাখা হয় যা পরবর্তীতে কিউবায় স্থানান্তর করা হয়।
বৈবাহিক জীবনে তিনি শুরুতে ইলদা গাদেয়াকে বিয়ে করেন, পরবর্তীতে কিউবার বিপ্লবী কর্মী আলেইদা মার্চকে বিয়ে করেন ।
তার মৃত্যুর এত বছর পরও তিনি সমান জনপ্রিয় তরুণদের কাছে।বিদ্রোহ, স্বাধীনতা ও সাম্যের প্রতীক হিসেবে চির স্মরণীয় । টিশার্ট,পোস্টার , টুপি ,সিনেমায় তার প্রভাব চোখে পড়ার মতো।
𝗘𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘃𝗲! - Che , and his ideals ,will live on forever.
১৯২৮ সালে আর্জেন্টিনায় জন্মগ্রহণ করেন বিপ্লবের সন্তান এর্নোস্তো চে গুয়েভারা সংক্ষেপে চে। দুই বছর বয়সে তার মা তাকে নদীতে সাঁতার শিখাতে গেলে তিনি ভয়াবহ ঠান্ডায় আক্রান্ত হন ,যা হাঁপানি হিসেবে বাদবাকি জীবন তার সঙ্গী ছিল।
দাদির মৃত্যু ও তার শারীরিক অবস্থা সম্পর্কে চিন্তিত হয়ে তিনি ডাক্তার হওয়ার সিদ্ধান্ত নেন।ছাত্রবস্থা থেকে কার্ল মার্কস, লেনিন , নেরুদা প্রমুখের লেখালেখিতে বেশ প্রভাবিত ছিলেন।
বন্ধু আলবের্তো গ্রানাদোকে সাথে নিয়ে তিনি মোটরসাইকেলে লাতিন আমেরিকার বিভিন্ন দেশে দেশে ঘুরে বেড়ান।এই ভ্রমণে শোষিত,নিপিড়িত ও দরিদ্র মানুষের সাক্ষাতে তার মানস জগতে তীব্র আলোড়ন সৃষ্টি হয়। তাদের জন্য কিছু করার তাগিদ অনুভব করেন।এই ভ্রমণ নিয়ে তিনি the motorcycle diaries নামক বইটি লিখেন।
অতঃপর কিউবার স্বৈরশাসক বাতিস্তাকে উৎখাত করতে তিনি কাস্ত্রোর সাথে গেরিলা যুদ্ধে যোগ দেন। তিনি অবশ্য পরে স্বাধীন কিউবার শিক্ষামন্ত্রী হন।
আফ্রিকা থেকে লাতিন আমেরিকায় বিপ্লব ছড়িয়ে দিতে তিনি আবার পৃথিবীর পথে বেরিয়ে পড়েন।১৯৬৭ সালে বলিভিয়ায় এক গেরিলা যুদ্ধে তিনি গ্রেপ্তার হন ও পরে তাকে হত্যা করা হয়। তার কবর ৩০ বছর বলিভিয়ায় লুকিয়ে রাখা হয় যা পরবর্তীতে কিউবায় স্থানান্তর করা হয়।
বৈবাহিক জীবনে তিনি শুরুতে ইলদা গাদেয়াকে বিয়ে করেন, পরবর্তীতে কিউবার বিপ্লবী কর্মী আলেইদা মার্চকে বিয়ে করেন ।
তার মৃত্যুর এত বছর পরও তিনি সমান জনপ্রিয় তরুণদের কাছে।বিদ্রোহ, স্বাধীনতা ও সাম্যের প্রতীক হিসেবে চির স্মরণীয় । টিশার্ট,পোস্টার , টুপি ,সিনেমায় তার প্রভাব চোখে পড়ার মতো।
𝗘𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝘃𝗲! - Che , and his ideals ,will live on forever.
October 19, 2019
A romantic, white-washed, selective biography of a racist, communist murderer who had "dreamy eyes" and looked like a "cool teenager".
July 7, 2019
Good story. It wasn’t bias and I learned a lot.
July 16, 2021
Glamorizes a murderous communist. Completely inappropriate.
February 7, 2022
A very good book that beautifully walks readers through the life of Che. It also helps understand why he is looked upon both as a good guy and a bad guy.
July 8, 2023
This is a great children’s book about Che. It’s short, easy to read, to the point and looks at the basic facts of Che’s life and how they shaped him. The illustrations are beautiful and the text conveys what Che’s ideals were and the reasons he chose to fight for them. The book also tells the reader why some people think Che is a hero and why others think he’s a villain, and even touches on his iconic photo has become a pop culture symbol around the world.
June 10, 2026
نکته های جالب از زندگی ارنستو چه گوارا:
اون با دوست و مربی راگبی خودش آلبرتو گراندو به دور آمریکای جنوبی سفر کرد و چهره ی فقط توی کشورهای مختلف رو دید.
بعدش از دوست دخترش درباره ی کمونیسم یاد گرفت و کمونیست شد. بعدها با همون دختر ازدواج کرد.
کلمه ی Che در اسپانیایی به معنای «دوست» هستش و این لقبی بود که کوبایی ها به او دادن
اون فیدل کاسترو رو از طریق یکی از مریض هاش که با اون دوست بود دید و قبول کرد دکتر دکتر ارتش اون بشه
اولین قانونی که چه پس از قدرت گرفتن در کوبا گذاشت مشابه کاری بود که محمدرضا شاه ایران کرد و اون هم این بود که هر فرد بیشتر از یه حدی نمیتونه صاحب زمین باشه و بیشتر از اون باید توسط دولت بین مردم پخش بشه.
این جالبه که یه سیاست هم توسط محمدرضا شاه ایران که ضدمارکسیست بوده و مستقیما به رسانه ها میگفته زندانی های ما مارکسیست هستن اجرا شده و هم ارنستو چه گوارا که کمونیست افراطی بوده
اون به همسرش دو سالی که توی کوبا میجنگید خیانت کرد و بعد موفقیت انقلاب کوبا از همسرش طلاق گرفت و دوباره ازدواج کرد. هرچند بعدش برای انقلاب های بیشتر اون خانواده رو ول کرد و در راه ایدئولوژی خودش مرد.
یه نکته ی جالب زبان که موقع خوندن کتاب یاد گرفتم:
فهمیدم ورزش Rugby و American Football یکی نیستن و فرق دارن.
در راگبی توپ از پشت حتما باید پاس داده بشه و لباس محافظتی خاصی نداره. برخلاف اون در فوتبال آمریکایی از جلو پاس داده میشه و کلی لباس محافظتی داره.
اون با دوست و مربی راگبی خودش آلبرتو گراندو به دور آمریکای جنوبی سفر کرد و چهره ی فقط توی کشورهای مختلف رو دید.
بعدش از دوست دخترش درباره ی کمونیسم یاد گرفت و کمونیست شد. بعدها با همون دختر ازدواج کرد.
کلمه ی Che در اسپانیایی به معنای «دوست» هستش و این لقبی بود که کوبایی ها به او دادن
اون فیدل کاسترو رو از طریق یکی از مریض هاش که با اون دوست بود دید و قبول کرد دکتر دکتر ارتش اون بشه
اولین قانونی که چه پس از قدرت گرفتن در کوبا گذاشت مشابه کاری بود که محمدرضا شاه ایران کرد و اون هم این بود که هر فرد بیشتر از یه حدی نمیتونه صاحب زمین باشه و بیشتر از اون باید توسط دولت بین مردم پخش بشه.
این جالبه که یه سیاست هم توسط محمدرضا شاه ایران که ضدمارکسیست بوده و مستقیما به رسانه ها میگفته زندانی های ما مارکسیست هستن اجرا شده و هم ارنستو چه گوارا که کمونیست افراطی بوده
اون به همسرش دو سالی که توی کوبا میجنگید خیانت کرد و بعد موفقیت انقلاب کوبا از همسرش طلاق گرفت و دوباره ازدواج کرد. هرچند بعدش برای انقلاب های بیشتر اون خانواده رو ول کرد و در راه ایدئولوژی خودش مرد.
یه نکته ی جالب زبان که موقع خوندن کتاب یاد گرفتم:
فهمیدم ورزش Rugby و American Football یکی نیستن و فرق دارن.
در راگبی توپ از پشت حتما باید پاس داده بشه و لباس محافظتی خاصی نداره. برخلاف اون در فوتبال آمریکایی از جلو پاس داده میشه و کلی لباس محافظتی داره.
June 27, 2019
3.25
It is almost impossible to see protests these days without the presence of a Che Guevara shirt, or a beret similar to the one Che wore and so I decided I wanted to learn more about the man and his ideals. After reading it I have a feeling a) most of the people who memorialize Che have very little knowledge of his life b) I discovered I am definitely not that impressed with a lot of his decisions.
There were some ideas of Che's I liked, many ideas I am in total disagreement with, but to be honest he definitely was not very likeable as a person. I am glad this book gave some basic info about his life and I hope to read more about him in the future.
It is almost impossible to see protests these days without the presence of a Che Guevara shirt, or a beret similar to the one Che wore and so I decided I wanted to learn more about the man and his ideals. After reading it I have a feeling a) most of the people who memorialize Che have very little knowledge of his life b) I discovered I am definitely not that impressed with a lot of his decisions.
There were some ideas of Che's I liked, many ideas I am in total disagreement with, but to be honest he definitely was not very likeable as a person. I am glad this book gave some basic info about his life and I hope to read more about him in the future.
who-hq
May 20, 2020Born in Argentina, studied to become a doctor. Took a motorcycle trip across South America and saw the poverty and exploitation of workers. Decided to become a revolutionary. Angered when US initiated cover operation to overthrow a Guatemala leader who had taken land from wealthy American owners. Joined the Cuban Revolution and played key role along Fidel Castro. Later left Cuba to initiate unsuccessful revolutions in Congo and Bolivia. Captured in Bolivia and summarily executed.
July 23, 2021
This was an interesting man who started revolutions during his lifetime. It is not one that I would have chosen as a hero but he was very much for individuals rights. Worth reading for the historical context of the book.
July 6, 2019
Typical children's biography series entry that skins through the life illustrated with B&W line drawings.
August 19, 2019
It was okay.
October 8, 2019
Fascinating surface look at Che Guevara's life. Not knowing all that much about him I learned a lot.
April 29, 2020
Another great kids book about a man with a fascinating life. Who Was is much more fair and shows both sides of the story "warts and all." Better than a t-shirt.
October 19, 2020
The life story of Che for kids. Does mention that not everyone sees him as a hero. Died before he was 40. Lived with asthma, studied to be a doctor, fought with Fidel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2021
Great reading style for younger readers. Easy to follow. A bit selective in the historical content but overall a good read.
January 13, 2022
The language used in this book is suitable for children without being patronizing or inaccessible.
November 19, 2025
I knew nothing going in so I wanted to learn a bit about someone who can be very polarizing. I love that this series gives facts, background info, and is accessible to young readers.
September 12, 2019
Che - one of my inspirational heroes!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews