Billy Graham: World-Famous Evangelist

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Gr. 6-10. This solid, engaging entry in the People to Know series begins with an attention-grabbing, detailed account of an early crusade that made Graham famous. From there, the text backtracks, picking up with Graham's rowdy boyhood and teen years (his sister says he was "in love with a different girl everyday"), the events that turned him to Christianity, and his subsequent education, marriage, and remarkable career. Along with the necessary facts, Wooten includes plenty of anecdotes about Graham's wife, Rose, and how Graham handled success and criticism, as well as some insightful speculation on Graham's international popularity. For the most part, the language is straightforward and the discussion evenhanded, making this a book that will satisfy readers, regardless of faith. A chronology, chapter notes, and further readings conclude. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


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The evangelist Billy Graham comes to life in this well-researched and well-written biography. The eldest child in a North Carolina farm family, William Franklin Graham, Jr. was quite a hellion in his youth. His life changed when he attended a revival meeting to hear the Rev. Dr. Ham preach in Charlotte, North Carolina. That night, Billy Graham officially joined the community of Christians. He was sixteen years old. Graham met his wife, Ruth McCue Bell, at Wheaton College, a four-year Christian college in Illinois. He had already been ordained as a Baptist minister. Bell supported her husband's calling as an evangelist, which meant that he was traveling much more than he was at home. The task of raising their children fell on her shoulders, although she did accompany her husband on some of his trips. Graham's preaching style made him wildly successful both here in the U.S. and internationally. The succinct text and black-and-white photos provide interesting reading about a fascinating subject. This title is one in the publisher's "People to Know" series. 2001, Enslow Publishers, $20.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer:Jeanne K. Pettenati


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