Jimmy Carter

ANNOTATION

Traces the life of the thirty-ninth president from his childhood in Plains, Georgia, through his career in the Navy, to his term in the White House, as well as his later humanitarian and diplomatic efforts.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Jimmy Carter from Plains, Georgia, a graduate of the Naval Academy, was president for one term, from 1976 to 1980. A peanut farmer when he became governor of Georgia, he promoted racial integration during his terms in the state house as well as in the White House. Carter's foreign policy introduced the concept of human rights around the world, and he signed the SALT treaty with the Soviet Union, reducing the numbers of nuclear weapons. Although Carter made progress towards peace between Arabs and Israelis in the Middle East, his administration was undone by the taking of American hostages in Iran. As an ex-president, Carter continues to be active promoting peace internationally.

FROM THE CRITICS

VOYA - Susan Allen

The research and documentation of this biography, part of the United States Presidents series, immediately strike the reader. The work contains extensive chapter notes, a chronology, further reading, and functional Internet addresses. Carter's life prior to becoming president is covered in three chapters, but the majority of the biography deals with his role as president, with special emphasis on his efforts in human rights, his part in the SALT talks, and his handling of the Iranian hostage crisis. The hard-to-pronounce names that appear throughout this biography are spelled out phonetically in parentheses, which is helpful, especially if the information sought is for an oral presentation. The reviewed text was a galley, so there were no illustrations, but black-and-white photos are liberally sprinkled throughout the book. The text, while well researched, is very concise. The sentences are short and simple, and in some cases, choppy. While this style will probably work for reluctant readers, many middle school students will find the writing distracting. Sometimes the footnoted items seem to be merely placed in a paragraph with little or no transition to them, or explanation as one leaves them. It is unfortunate that the writing is not more flowing and effortless, as the research and documentation are excellent. Index. Chronology. Further Reading. Photos. VOYA Codes: 2Q 2P M (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q, For the YA with a special interest in the subject, Middle School-defined as grades 6 to 8).

Kirkus Reviews

In Schraff's view, although Carter's presidential record is decidedly mixed, in the days since he sacrificed his political career to save the lives of the Iran hostages, he has become our "best example of a retired former president." In clear, concise prose, this entry in the United States Presidents series traces Carter's career from five-year-old peanut vendor to venerable peacemaker, showing how he overcame the obstacles of a rustic background and substandard education to excel in the navy, in business, and in politics, closing with a summary account of his post-presidential achievements up to his 1996 visit to Tunisia to mediate the Rwanda-Burundi conflict. Schraff provides only glimpses of Carter's private life and family, but quotes briefly and to good effect from a variety of published sources, supports her narrative with plenty of notes, and supplies both a select bibliography and a list of Internet addresses for readers seeking more detail. A readable, if utilitarian, update for Ed Slavin's Jimmy Carter (1989) and the other series biographies. (b&w photos, index, not seen) (Biography. 10-13)