Our Eleanor (Informational Books)

Fleming, Candace. Our Eleanor : a scrapbook look at Eleanor Roosevelt's remarkable life. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005.

Plot Summary
    Eleanor Roosevelt was more than a first lady. She was was a revolutionary thinker that managed to permanently impact America’s view of social justice. Our Eleanor begins with a look at Eleanor’s family tree and difficult upbringing and progresses to her complicated roles as mother, wife, and friend. Other portions of the biography work to contrast this very human view of Eleanor by reflecting on her remarkable ability to connect with the poor and disadvantaged members of society and her confidence in fighting for their rights. Flemings utilizes quotes, diary entries, articles, images, and short anecdotes to gain glimpses into Eleanor’s mind and heart.
  
Critical Analysis

    Our Eleanor: a scrapbook look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s remarkable life is a comprehensive look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s influential existence. The biography covers events from Eleanor’s birth to her death in areas of both private matters and social endeavors. Fleming delves into where Eleanor came from, how she evolved, and how she continues to impact society.
    The book takes an honest and intimate approach by viewing Eleanor as a strong and yet flawed character. Quotes from Eleanor give intimate glimpses into her personal life, such as when Eleanor explains, “It did not come naturally to me to understand little children or enjoy them” (32).  Fleming guides the reader through a scrapbook style look at Eleanor’s life that incorporates narrative, lists, photographs, and documents that serve to create active engagement with the text. Graphics support and add interest to text, such as black and white print of a National Youth Administration poster that demonstrated one of Eleanor’s programs (93) or photos of Eleanor baking in her cottage after leaving the white house (130).
    The book fails to follow the traditional chronological path of most biographies but instead focuses on snapshots and topics within Eleanor’s life. As Fleming best states, the book will guide readers and “like a jigsaw puzzle, the many pieces of her life will slowly fit together to form the picture of an extraordinary woman” (ix). Readers will be forced to critically analyze Eleanor as they realize that even heros and heroines are flawed but still worthy of emulation.  This biography has a unique style allows it to be viewed in bits and pieces while engrossing its readers and encouraging further reading.

Awards and Review Excerpts
ALA Best Books For Young Adults 1997
Notable Children’s Books 1997
Publishers Weekly Starred Reviews
Booklist- “a broad audience, including many adults, will be intrigued by the volume's photo-album immediacy”
Kirkus Reviews- “an incredibly well-organized and thorough scrapbook”
Publishers Weekly- “Fleming allows readers to draw their own conclusions; they will come away with an understanding of a woman who shaped her times and left a lasting imprint on the future.”
School Library Journal- “Enjoyably educational”

Connections

Young Adults can discover other influential and/or inspirational women by reading these biographies.
Cooper, Ilene. Oprah Winfrey : a twentieth-century life. New York: Puffin Books, 2008.
Fleming, Candace. Amelia lost : the life and disappearance of Amelia Earhart. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011.
Fradin, Judith. The power of one : Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine. New York: Clarion Books, 2004.
Hamilton, Bethany. Soul surfer : a true story of faith, family, and fighting to get back on the board. New York: Pocket Books MTV Books, 2006.
Jackson, Livia. I have lived a thousand years : growing up in the Holocaust. New York, N.Y: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1999.
Nichols, Joan. Mary Shelley, Frankenstein's creator : first science fiction writer. Berkeley, CA Emeryville, Calif: Conari Press Group West distributor, 1998.

Follow up Our Eleanor with these reads on Eleanor Roosevelt aimed at younger audiences.
Adler, David. A picture book of Eleanor Roosevelt. New York: Holiday House, 1991.  
Cooney, Barbara. Eleanor. New York: Scholastic, Inc, 1999.
Times for Kids. Eleanor Roosevelt : first lady of the world. New York: Harper Collins Publishers,  2006.