Eleanor Roosevelt is another of my heroes. She was born into privilege but suffered from awkwardness and shyness. When her parents died she was sent to live with relatives until she finished school. She met her dashing future husband at a party, and was surprised when he continued his attention when he could have had any of the eligible girls in their social circle. Lucky him. With her support Franklin Roosevelt rose to become one of our country's greatest presidents, and Eleanor became one of the most beloved of all first ladies. I am a huge fan of Russell Freedman. His writing style is so masterful, that it is transparent. Nothing stands between the reader and what is happening in the story. He writes for a young audience, and handles difficult topics like Franklin Roosevelt's infidelity discretely and in a way that is age appropriate. He doesn't spend a lot of time talking about Franklin's struggle to overcome polio, but does talk a lot about how his and Eleanor's relationship changed over the years. I was especially impressed by the account of how Eleanor stayed active in politics for years after Franklin's death. This is an older book, and won a Newbery Honor in 1994. (1993, 208 p.)
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