Picture of author.
8 Works 70 Membros 3 Críticas

About the Author

Hendrik Booraem V is a social and political historian who has made studying the early lives of American presidents a lifelong specialty. Among the other presidents he has written books about are Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, James A. Garfield, and Calvin Coolidge.

Obras por Hendrik Booraem

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

Data de nascimento
1939
Sexo
male

Membros

Críticas

Young Jerry Ford: Athlete and Citizen is a partial biography of the 38th President, Gerald Ford Jr. It is written by Hendrik Booraem V and outlines Ford’s childhood. This book can also be considered a specialized book as it covers a topic that is not too often covered in conventional social studies or books about US presidents. The book talks about Ford’s athletic career which can pique the interests of students who are interested in sports. The subtitle of the book “Athlete and Citizen” can be seen as an extension of topics or ideas covered in social studies curricula. The coverage of topics about Jerry Ford’s childhood, morals and athletic career are balanced and work well together to form a strong narrative structure. This book should not be seen as a frequent reference for learning or research about an individual. It is about a part of a president’s life that has been given very little coverage in other texts.

This book demonstrates a considerable level of accuracy and scholarship. Hendrik Booraem V is a social and political historian who has written several other books about the early lives of American Presidents such as James A. Garfield and Calvin Coolidge. The facts presented are well supported by evidence from the Grand Rapids Public Library. The library provided the author with numerous transcripts and important documents to help shape the book. Gerald Ford’s family made a large contribution to the book by placing important photographs and other important documents in the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Another key piece of evidence that bolsters the accuracy of this book is the fact that some of the information was adapted from Ford’s own autobiography, A Time to Heal. The sensationalism and stereotyping are limited. “It was a stroke of good fortune, that precisely at that moment, a star of Michigan sports entered Junie’s life- the diminutive but aggressive Danny Rose,” is a quote that demonstrates a strong statement of opinion (99). The opinions and sensational moments scattered throughout this chapter do little to harm the overall accuracy of this book. There is no concrete evidence of stereotyping present.

From a content perspective, this book has a strong focus and adds a great deal of depth to the subject of Gerald Ford’s childhood. The focus is emphasized by the chapter titles such as “Climbing the Ladder of Success.” These descriptive chapter titles allow the author to describe and demonstrate elements of Ford’s young life that had a great influence on him as a person and eventual president. The depth of the book is bolstered by important fragments of Ford’s interviews and own personal anecdotes. The scope for the book is outlined clearly and is limited by an examination of Gerald Ford’s moral character development and athletic accomplishments. The photographs presented also add a great deal of strength to this book as they are all collected from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library or other historical organizations.

The content of this book is carefully organized and the ideas are logically ordered. The language used is appropriate and accessible for the target audience of young readers. Since this is a biography, there is little evidence of figurative language. Any complex idea, such as the diverse population of Grand Rapids, Michigan is clearly explained. The language used is precise and appropriate. Language is vivid and draws the reader into this interesting subject. The vivid language emerges when the author is describing the teachers in Ford’s education. “Mr. Krause, the principal, was a short, trim, serious man, reputed to be tough but fair. Miss Linsley, the bubbly chorus teacher, was a miracle worker who could teach any student to sing and whose choruses always placed high in competitions,” are some examples of this vivid language (52). The comparison of the quality of life of the Ford Family in the 1920’s is interesting and provides the reader with another example of vivid imagery as the author states that, “ By twenty-first century standards, the Ford’s life on Union Avenue seems limited and inconvenient. By the standards of Grand Rapids in the 1920s, it was about average, or a bit above average” (35). The tone of the book can be described as conversational and a bit partisan and neutral at times. The photographs along with the text work out a conversation of sorts. The conversational nature of the book is embedded in many of the anecdotes provided and one such example is from Virginia Berry, one of Jerry Ford’s classmates. She states that, “He didn’t resent if I got a better grade; he was just checking. We both got A’s in that subject, the only two in the class” (53). The partisan or neutral tone emerges during the section of the book where the author describes Ford’s athletic ability and career. The idea of being “popular” for playing football is where the author attempts takes a stand and often conveys information in a passive tone.

The book is organized into various themes surrounding Ford’s moral character or athletic development suggesting that the author employed a topical structure to organize the ideas and facts. The narrative structure of embedded anecdotes and factual information supports this organizational style. The chapter titles make the book easier and more enjoyable to read. The internal structures of the text make clear connections between factual information presented. Access features are present in the form of a table of contents, preface and a conclusion. The table of contents is simply a listing of the chapters but is clear. The chapter titles are varied but they are descriptive enough to engage the reader. “Hey, Whiety, You’re a Center” is the title for one of the chapters. The varied chapter titles make this book useful for focused research as well as a recreational read. The preface and conclusion utilize foreshadowing to demonstrate the powerful influence Gerald Ford’s childhood had on him as an adult. The conclusion describes how Ford’s experiences on the football field and at the University of Michigan influenced his political decisions in the House of Representatives and as the President of the United States.

The layout of this book makes it very accessible. The photographs are well laid out and do not detract the reader from the text. As a paperback volume, this book is well designed. The pages are a bit thicker and seem to hold up to everyday wear and tear. The font size makes the book easy to read. The cover illustration also acts as a good hook for the reader as it is a photograph of Jerry Ford while he was in college playing football. There is also a quote from his son, Steve Ford, commending the book. The format invites a reader to this book. An index is included that highlights important people and places during Ford’s childhood. This makes it easier for readers to find a certain section of Gerald Ford’s childhood that interests them. A point of contention for this book is the lack of a bibliography. This would enhance the book to a great extent. The author does state where he got his information from in the preface but a list of sources would be welcomed. There are acknowledgments presented about the photographs and visual aids used. A glossary would also be beneficial but not fully necessary as many of the unfamiliar terms or ideas were defined clearly in the text. There are no sidebars presented in the text. The photographs and maps had captions underneath them describing their importance. The visual aids presented also help the reader navigate and make connections with the text. Since most of the visuals presented are historical pictures, the reader can envision how life really was during Ford’s childhood. The maps presented were accurate and gave the reader a strong sense of place. The photographs also help to outline the magnitude and importance of athletics, especially football, during Gerald Ford’s childhood. The simple composition of this book demonstrates a strong reverence and a sense of respect for Gerald Ford. The cover also suggests the great deal of research that went into the book.

After looking up other books about this topic, it seems that UNO does not have a comparable volume about Gerald Ford’s childhood. The only noteworthy title that came up during my search was a book about ten famous presidential assassination attempts. This book has no relevance to Gerald Ford’s childhood and its effect on his character and athletic ability. There are not too many titles that are solely focused on Gerald Ford’s childhood. Even with the many inherent issues present, I would use this book in my classroom. This book is indented for middle school students in grades 6-8, but can also be used in high school classes. I can see this book serving as a good hook for a lesson about the American Presidency. It is also a good read for a high school civics class. Gerald R. Ford: An Honorable Life by James Cannon, one of Ford’s closest advisers, is the only true alternative title I discovered about this topic. It reinforces the idea presented in Young Jerry Ford: Athlete and Citizen about Ford’s moral character that he developed during his childhood. However, the length and language presented in the book are not relevant or appropriate for a middle or high school lesson. The accuracy, content, style and layout of Young Jerry Ford: Athlete and Citizen, despite its drawbacks, will make it a worthwhile addition to the UNO collection.
… (mais)
½
 
Assinalado
rupsarkar | 1 outra crítica | Mar 15, 2015 |
An excellent book all-around: subject, writing, research. I was particularly interested in this book because my ancestors lived in the Carolina backcountry in the last quarter of the 18th century. This book is a vivid, well-written account of Andrew Jackson's early life, growing up in the Carolinas and the influences of the Revolutionary War. The book helped me more than anything else I've read to understand the day-to-day lives of these people.
 
Assinalado
labwriter | Apr 27, 2010 |
 
Assinalado
Sullywriter | 1 outra crítica | May 22, 2015 |

Estatísticas

Obras
8
Membros
70
Popularidade
#248,179
Avaliação
½ 3.3
Críticas
3
ISBN
10

Tabelas & Gráficos