Grade 3-6–With a well-designed format and clear, concise prose, these biographies provide glimpses into the lives of their subjects. Brill's description of Obama's childhood is poignant, and the passages dealing with his relationship with his father are especially well written. The author also does a great job of presenting the senator's successes and failures impartially. On the other hand, McElroy's recounting of Gonzales's childhood occasionally becomes sentimental. Sidebars in both titles offer either brief summaries of important sections or interesting insights not mentioned in the texts. Color and black-and-white photographs of the men, beginning in childhood, include private and public-relations shots. Easy to read, factually correct, and serviceable for research.
