From Booklist
Gr. 6-12. The two newest additions to the United States Presidents series begin with pivotal moments in each man's life: Coolidge being woken in the middle of the night to be sworn in after Harding's sudden death; Bush facing Desert Storm. Then each text moves chronologically, highlighting the leader's childhood, family influences, education, career, and journey to the White House. The authors do an impressive job of emphasizing the strength of character of each president while still providing a balanced assessment of their influence on U.S. history. With fewer personal details to share, Allen explores Coolidge's shy character and analyzes the impact of his stoicism as President. In contrast, Schuman is able to move briskly through Bush's life and his many challenges, successes, and setbacks as a politician. Both biographies will give readers a clear profile of twentieth-century leaders in the context of major events in American history. Roger Leslie
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