The Brave Cyclist

July 1, 2019

Gr 3-6-Gino Bartali transformed from skinny kid to beloved national hero when he worked hard to become the best cyclist in Italy. On his 17th birthday, Bartali began to enter cycling races. By 21, his relentless dedication and determination opened up new opportunities. Using his fame as a Tour de France winner to his advantage, he delivered documents that helped Jewish people escape the Nazi regime. Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa, the archbishop of the church in Florence, recruited Bartali to assist in this lifesaving mission. Although aiding Jewish people was a crime punishable by imprisonment or death, Bartali believed that this form of political resistance was more than worth the risk. Hoffman's clear writing and Fedele's lush illustrations make the heavy subject matter of the Holocaust comprehensible to younger readers. The story of how an ordinary boy became an extraordinary athlete is enough to pull in those reluctant to read about the Holocaust. The book shows that anyone can use their unique skills to be a hero. The up-to-date bibliography lists a variety of sources including books, documentaries, and news articles. VERDICT Hoffman offers an accessible biography about a little-known athlete and Holocaust hero; a much-needed addition to historical collections.-Parnell Memorial Library, Montevallo, AL

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May 15, 2019
An extraordinary athlete was also an extraordinary hero. Gino Bartali grew up in Florence, Italy, loving everything about riding bicycles. After years of studying them and years of endurance training, he won the 1938 Tour de France. His triumph was muted by the outbreak of World War II, during which Mussolini followed Hitler in the establishment of anti-Jewish laws. In the middle years of the conflict, Bartali was enlisted by a cardinal of the Italian church to help Jews by becoming a document courier. His skill as a cyclist and his fame helped him elude capture until 1944. When the war ended, he kept his clandestine efforts private and went on to win another Tour de France in 1948. The author's afterword explains why his work was unknown. Yad Vashem, the Israeli Holocaust museum, honored him as a Righteous Among the Nations in 2013. Bartali's is a life well worth knowing and well worthy of esteem. Fedele's illustrations in mostly dark hues will appeal to sports fans with their action-oriented scenes. Young readers of World War II stories will gain an understanding from the somber wartime pages. What makes one person step into danger to help others? A question worthy of discussion, with this title as an admirable springboard. (photograph, select bibliography, source notes) (Picture book/biography. 7-10)

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