James A. Garfield

Children's Literature

This biography on the twentieth United States President is from the "Presidential Leader Series." The text is dull for the reader due to the fact after fact information on his life. Before becoming President, Garfield had dreams of becoming a sailor. He lost his father at the age of two, and his mother was left to raise him and his other three siblings. At a young age, Garfield aspired to leave Ohio and wanted to see more of the world. He was poor and managed to see the value of getting an education and attained one despite the challenges along the way. The biography cites that he could write in Greek and Latin at the same time. He was left-handed, but had taught himself to write right-handed as well. Some of the jobs Garfield maintained in his life were carpenter, school master, lawyer, senator, and major general. His narrow win by a margin of 10,000 popular votes brought him to the White House. Even though he had a short-lived presidency of four months, he was a proponent of many issues including the abolition of slavery. This biography includes photographs and illustrations to support the factual information. 2005, Lerner Publications Company, Ages 12 up.
—Rosa Roberts