From School Library Journal
Grades 6-10--This volume chronicles the life of our 34th president. Told in chronological order, the story begins with his childhood years in Texas and Kansas, follows him to West Point, and on to his career in the Army, his appointment as supreme Allied commander during World War II, and his two terms as President of the United States. The text is well written, interesting, and adequately supplemented with typical photographs, such as Ike's boyhood home, his high school baseball team, a West Point portrait, and various political and military shots. Chapters are fairly brief, and cover each segment of the man's life well. A brief appendix explains Eisenhower's contribution to the interstate highway system.Marilyn Heath, Belton-Honea Path High School, Honea Path, SCCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Gr. 6-12. Eisenhower evolved from a hot-tempered, free-spirited West Point cadet to a meticulous military strategist and shrewd, if seemingly detached, commander in chief. Weaving together private, familial, and professional threads, Young reveals Ike's story with a flair that makes both the man's questionable and admirable traits interesting. Without judging, Young relates details about Ike's remote personality and relationships with key historical figures--among them, Douglas MacArthur and Harry Truman--and about myopic presidential decisions, such as stalling desegregation and ignoring Joseph McCarthy's witch hunt. Colorful portraits of Ike's wife, Mamie, and cold war rival Khrushchev, add interest. There is enough drama here to make the story of the thirty-fourth president a surprisingly dynamic tale. Roger Leslie
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

FROM THE PUBLISHER

America's thirty-fourth president and the Supreme Commander of the Allied forces during World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower learned as a boy in rural Kansas that it was best to approach life's challenges from a position of strength.

Ike, as he was called first by his family and later by the nation, began his life-long military career as a cadet at West Point. After years of slow advancement in the peacetime army, he emerged during the early months of World War II as the officer most capable of leading the fight against the Nazis. After overseeing victorious campaigns in North Africa and Italy, Ike planned the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944. After the war, his immense popularity kept him from the retirement he had planned. In 1952, he was elected the first Republican president in two decades. During the Eisenhower Administration, the United States entered the space race, began the long march toward civil rights, and started development of the nation's interstate highway system. Dwight D. Eisenhower: Soldier and President will be of interest to any young reader who wants to know more about the life story of one of America's most important leaders of the last century.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature

Many situations could have been different in Dwight D. Eisenhower's life and changed the course of history. Unique circumstances played a role in getting him to the position of general in World War II and finally to the 34th presidency. What if his leg had been amputated when he contracted blood poisoning in high school? Fortunately, his brother, Edgar, refused to let the doctor into his room. Another time, Dwight was working to allow Edgar to attend college, but a friend asked him to take the U.S. Naval Academy exam. Even though he placed first, Dwight was too old to enter the Academy. Fortunately, he had a second option—West Point, and, fortunately, the top candidate failed his physical. Events like talking with his mother about controlling his temper, or using a stick to subdue a goose, or his humiliation after hazing a younger classmate, also contributed to how he later acted as general, president and world leader. The book, which is a part of the "Notable Americans" series, deals with his childhood, university life, days as a soldier and commander, and finally his terms as president. Antidotes plus historical facts make the book interesting and easy to read. 2001, Morgan Reynolds, $20.95. Ages 11 to 16. Reviewer:Janet L. Rose

School Library Journal