Michelle Bachelet

Children's Literature - Jennie DeGenaro

Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. sets the tone for this fascinating biography with his insightful introduction. The history of Chile is filled with varied administrative policies that have been written and carried out for good and evil, depending on the president. Here, we learn about the latest Chilean president, from her family history through the modern demands of her leadership role. Bachelet's father served in the Air Force and rose to the rank of general. He was well thought of and served in many responsible positions until, during a military coup, he was arrested, tortured and died in prison. Bachelet and her mother were also tortured and sexually abused in prison. Then, they were exiled and lived in Eastern Europe where Bachelet met and married her husband. Later, she had three children and divorced her husband. As a single, working mother, she decided to return to Chile. There, she attended medical school, became a doctor and entered politics. She served as Chile's minister of health, then as defense minister. In 2006, she was elected to be the first woman president of Chile. At the beginning of her administration, she had many difficulties to overcome, including natural disasters, strikes, birth control measure she sponsored and rescinded, school improvements, and other campaign promises the people insisted she keep. Bachelet explains she is an agnostic in a primarily Catholic country. She has led a storybook life. The "Modern World Leaders" series focuses on leaders making headlines today. Each exciting personal history is accompanied by full-page color photographs, a chronology, a bibliography, an index, a list of resources for further reading, and web site suggestions. Thisseries is sure to be an important addition to social studies collections. Reviewer: Jennie DeGenaro