Robert F. Kennedy (Up Close Series)

Publishers Weekly

Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated on June 4, 1968, just after winning the California Democratic primary. Many Americans remember him as a passionate, hardworking man who fought for fairer working conditions, civil rights, health care and education for the nation's poor, and an end to the Vietnam war. But in this biography, one of four launch titles in the Up Close series of 20th-century figures, Aronson portrays another, more complicated side to Bobby Kennedy. During his years working with Senator Joe McCarthy on his anti-Communist crusade, working to eradicate organized crime, and in 1959 while running brother John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign, Bobby comes across as ruthless. He was also single-minded ("Everything he did from the day he was born to the day he died would be with the family, and for the family," Aronson writes). The author nicely sets the stage for this family bond with tales from Bobby's childhood; as a boy, Bobby was considered the "runt" of his family, which only motivated him to work harder to be seen as a man. And after John's death in 1963, Bobby was forced to make a choice: to back Lyndon Johnson or set his own course (and Aronson's picture of their behind-the-scenes tug-of-war will likely fascinate budding history and political buffs). This biography sometimes feels pulled off center by its focus on John rather than Bobby Kennedy, but perhaps that's inevitable, given how deeply intertwined the brothers' lives were. Aronson smoothly weaves in the influential personalities of the era, such as J. Edgar Hoover and Jimmy Hoffa, and will surely ignite in young people an interest in this pivotal era. Ages 11-up. (Apr.)

VOYA - Laura Woodruff

School Library Journal

Gr 8 & Up - The life and complicated times of Robert F. Kennedy are explored in this well-documented biography. Bobby was the third son in a large family and was often overlooked by his powerful father in favor of his brothers, Joe and Jack. He was also in the background in his professional life, helping out with Jack's campaigns and struggling to find his own path. Bobby worked on Senate committees investigating corruption and organized crime, served as attorney general during JFK's presidency, and was later elected as senator. He was assassinated in 1968 as he was campaigning for president. Aronson draws on a wide variety of sources and is very honest in examining his subject as a complete human being, warts and all. For example, Kennedy's empathy for outsiders and the oppressed is highlighted, as are incidents of lying, cover-ups, and behind-the-scenes manipulations. Small, but well-reproduced archival photos appear throughout, highlighting many of the individuals and events mentioned in the text. Some of the central themes, such as Bobby being virtually ignored by his father and constantly trying to prove himself, are dwelled on for a little too long. However, this text stands as an unbiased and illuminating resource.-Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH