After reading The Man He Became I realized this is essentially the same material rewritten for a younger audience.

After reading The Man He Became I realized this is essentially the same material rewritten for a younger audience.

I know the story well.

First, because I had read James Tobin's biography The Man He Became: How FDR Defied Polio to Win the Presidency. And from reading numerous other books about Franklin Roosevelt.

And yet, I felt the tension and expectation stirring as I read Tobin's middle school biography of how Franklin Roosevelt met the challenge of infantile polio with extraordinary perseverance.

As Al Smith pressured FDR to run for governor of New York State in a desperate bid to maintain Democratic votes for his presidency, Missy LeHand, FDR's secretary and 'office wife' whispers "Don't you dare!" for she knew what was at stake.

With more time in therapy at Warm Springs, FDR might walk again. If he returned to his home state and full time work, his chances to walk without crutches or braces was nil.

FDR had to choose between his personal goal to beat polio and his political hopes. The moment was now--was it worth the cost?

Tobin's ability to describe the medical information about polio and how it affected FDR's body is excellent. Young readers will understand the science and the emotional and social impact of the disease. FDR being 'crippled' meant he had to defy compartmentalization by society, politicians, and especially by voters.

There was no hiding his disability. He had to wear heavy leg braces, use crutches, canes, and wheelchairs, and had to be lifted into cars.

He turned the indignity into a demonstration of his strength and positive energy. He lifted his head, smiled, kept an upbeat attitude, communicating that being 'lame' did not affect his mind and his ability to work hard. In fact, he inspired people.

"Through those twelve dark years of pain and upheaval, Roosevelt's leadership was the beacon in the darkness. Because he evidently believed that all would be well in the end, people took hope. And it was no small thing that they knew he had come through a great personal ordeal."~Master of his Fate by James Tobin
Tobin informs about FDR's failings, including his troubled marriage, his distance as a father, times he became angry. He was not perfect. But that is the wonderful thing--imperfect humans can impact and change the world for the better.

The book is also a political history, tracing FDR's career and how his political relationship with Al Smith, and his nomination speech, brought him to public attention.

Franklin Roosevelt is consistently rated as one of our greatest presidents for leading the country through perilous times and for social programs that we take for granted today.

Young readers will understand how polio changed FDR's life and made him a better person, and that we can rise above the cards we have been dealt.

I was given a free ebook by the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased. ( )