Bibliographic Information
Fleming, Candace. OUR ELEANOR: A SCRAPBOOK LOOK AT ELEANOR ROOSEVELT'S REMARKABLE LIFE. New York,NY: Atheneum books for Young Readers. ISBN:978-0689865442.
Plot and Critical Analysis
Beginning with a diagram of the Roosevelt Family, this informational book is filled with personal details of Eleanor's life, historic facts of her upbringing, information on how she became Mrs. Roosevelt, and the work she did in her lifetime. It addresses her time before becoming first lady through her productive years all the way to her death. It is clearly written with facts and personal accounts alike. The visual elements range from family photos, diary entries, newspaper photos and articles. Its layout resembling a scrapbook allows visual breaks from text, diversity among the pages, and divided passages which would allow a young reader an obvious stopping point for a reading session. The design is very appealing and it provides a variety of primary resources which would be a great example for children in the method of researching. These sources not only correspond to the text, but add a much more personal feel so that any reader will see an intimate look into her life. In the back are source notes, suggested reading, picture credits and an index.
The length and details suggest this book is for older children and perhaps adults who want a introductory look into the life of this first lady. The language used is appropriate for an informational source of both life details as well as historical events. In fact, this is a great book to read out loud as there are brief summaries of topics which offer details in a short informative synopsis. Of high significance is the overall tone of this book. It portrays Eleanor Roosevelt in such a respected light, far above the previous first ladies, covering her struggles in childhood of loneliness to her determination and sense of service into her adulthood.
Awards and Reviews
ALA Notable Children's Books, Older Readers Category: 2006
School Library Journal Best Books: 2005
School Library Journal Best Books: 2005
School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 4-8–This presentation does for the longest-serving First Lady what Russell Freedman's Lincoln: A Photobiography (Clarion, 1987) did for an earlier inhabitant of the White House. While the arrangement is chronological from Roosevelt's parents' marriage to her own death, the narrative is not linear per se. Rather, each of the seven chapters leads readers through the subject's busy life with short sections of text filled with well-documented first-person accounts and direct quotes. Much of the story is told within the meaty sidebars covering supporting perspectives, enlightening details, and amusing anecdotes. Fleming is honest, respectful, and astute throughout, addressing both successes and controversies with balance (not to mention with candor, as when she approaches the issue of Eleanor's sexuality with the statement Was She or Wasn't She?). Not a spread goes by without incredible archival photographs or reproductions, newspaper and magazine clippings, handwritten letters, and diary entries. Many of them have never been published in a book for young people, and they all provide relevant and fascinating insight. The title suggests an intimacy between reader and subject, which is strengthened by a design suggesting a family album. Pages are jam-packed with information in varying fonts and formats, yet still manage to remain clearly and logically laid out. Basic research tools include a time line, family tree, and extensive source notes. Enjoyably educational, Our Eleanor will be a core title in all collections for years to come.–Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL
Booklist
Gr. 6-9. As in Fleming's Ben Franklin's Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman's Life (2003), which was a 2004 Booklist Top 10 Biography, this takes a pastiche approach to humanizing a legendary life. Through anecdotes and archival photos drawn from an assortment of sources, Fleming invites readers into a camaraderie with the timid, neglected little girl who grew up to become the woman many nicknamed "copresident," and whose flouting of accepted gender roles earned her admiration and ridicule in equal measure. The details of Roosevelt's life are certainly riveting; however, Fleming's jigsaw-puzzle approach is probably best suited for use in conjunction with more traditional narratives, such as Russell Freedman's Newbery Honor Book Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery (1993). In terms of Roosevelt's sexuality, for instance, the frank details about Roosevelt's bonds with known lesbians appear 15 pages before a segment that asks "Was She Or Wasn't She?" (Answer: who knows?)--a structural choice that seems to encourage assumptions rather than heading them off. That said, a broad audience, including many adults, will be intrigued by the volume's photo-album immediacy. Those eager to gain perspectives from other biographers may be frustrated by a list of related books primarily geared to younger children, although multimedia resources and exhaustive source notes offer plenty of opportunities to extend this intimate, unvarnished, and ultimately deeply moving portrait. Jennifer Mattson
Connections
One of the reasons I have always admired Eleanor Roosevelt is because of her focus on equality and sense of humanity. She was an advocate for equal rights, equal pay for female workers, and worked to improve the lives of others through an improvement in public housing and welfare. In her writings, some of which are shared in this source, a reader can see how the most basic of courtesies can become an important aspect in life when you witness people not being given the same respect as others. I think for any child reading a book on the Roosevelts, Civil Rights activists, or a book focused on people striving to be kind to others provides an important opportunity for the reader to connect literature to their own lives. Eleanor Roosevelt was a compassionate writer and a compassionate person and hopefully for girls especially, it will show that how someone acts and the kindess they offer is far superior to any superficial element of attractiveness. Reading about a woman who began life with a sad and lonely childhood to later live as one of America's most respected first ladies is inspiring for any young girl. Readers may then like to learn more about first ladies, parts of the world, equal rights issues,the depression, war, or any of the events that were so positively influenced by the actions of Eleanor Roosevelt.
Similar Readings:
With courage and cloth: winning the fight for a woman's right to vote (Ann Bausum): Focuses on woman's roles for another battle of equality - the right to vote.
Abigail Adams: first lady (Janet Hubbard Brown): Offering the details of the life of another influential first lady.
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