Che Guevara

Children's Literature - Mary Loftus

This book is one in the "Biography" series and is a tie-in to the A&E television program of the same name. Che Guevara's life is covered in eight short chapters. The text is straightforward and easy to follow, moving mostly in chronological order from Che's childhood and educational background, to his travels in South America, his relationship with Fidel Castro, and his work as a revolutionary fighter. Black-and-white photos complement the text, as well as sidebars on topics such as Cuba's history and the living conditions of its citizens in the 1950s. The reader gets a sense of Guevara's relentless pursuit of adventure and revolution, leaving his family to pursue independence for the Congo after he grew weary of administrative duties in Cuba. His failed attempt in the Congo led Che to Bolivia, where he met death the way he led his life—fighting for revolution. The book concludes with a time line, source notes, a bibliography, lists for further reading and web sites.

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up
Havelin introduces a dedicated and idealistic man who put his political and social beliefs above everything, including his family and his health. She briefly recounts Che's childhood, then, with increasing detail, his early adulthood and revolutionary years. His famous motorcycle journey and his meeting with Fidel Castro in Mexico are discussed, as are his success as a revolutionary and failure as a bureaucrat. Some attention is also given to his lesser-known travels in Africa and South America near the end of his life. Black-and-white archival photographs and gray-scale maps add to the text, as do insets explaining everything from leprosy to the Cold War to the underlying social conditions in Cuba in the 1950s. This slim volume is a fine starting point for teens interested in a man Time magazine named one of the most influential personalities of the 20th century.
—Anthony C. DoyleCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.