Che Guevara: The Making of a Revolutionary

Ernesto "Che" Guevara was passionate about bringing freedom and equality to poor and oppressed people throughout the world. Che was born in Argentina and gained fame for his role in the Cuban revolution alongside Fidel Castro. But his commitment was not bound by any country or nationality. Che was willing to give his life for the cause of freedom anywhere in the world. But there was a dark side to the guerilla warrior. Che had no problem using force to attain his idea of the perfect society. Never compromising his beliefs, Che became an iconic figure, arguably the best-known revolutionary in history.

Children's Literature

Che Guevara's parents loved learning. They collected books and had friends who were radical in their beliefs. Che developed life-threatening asthma, and the condition seemed to push him into becoming a daredevil. The first to volunteer for anything dangerous, he did not live his life on the "sidelines." Che began to study medicine after the death of his beloved grandmother, and during his time in medical school, he traveled. During two road trips, he met people who suffered for their political beliefs and struggled with poverty. Because of this, Che began to believe in revolution to overthrow a system he saw as corrupt. Soon after his graduation from medical school, he met Fidel and Raul Castro; the three of them fought together in the Cuban Revolution. This book details Che's life and death, as well as his continued popularity. It is a good book for U.S. History teachers to have available for students to read when studying the Bay of Pigs invasion and Vietnam War era. This well-written, picture-laden book is a must-have for libraries. Part of the "Life Portraits" series. Reviewer: Jennifer Mitchell